Manjrekar criticizes Kohli’s dismissal in Adelaide Test, highlights struggles with outside-off deliveries

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar voiced his disappointment over Virat Kohli’s dismissal during the first innings of the Adelaide Test against Australia, attributing Kohli’s decline in Test batting average to his persistent struggles with deliveries outside the off-stump. Kohli was dismissed for just seven runs in India’s first innings, adding to ongoing concerns about his form in red-ball cricket.

One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now, is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially his adamance to not try another way to tackle it.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 6, 2024

Kohli’s Dismissal and Struggles

Facing Mitchell Starc’s eighth delivery, a length ball with bounce outside off, Kohli appeared indecisive—caught between playing or leaving the ball—and ultimately edged it to Steve Smith at slips. This dismissal marked yet another instance of Kohli falling to his long-standing vulnerability against deliveries outside off, especially while attempting cover drives.

Mitchell Starc sends Virat Kohli packing!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/2AzNllS7xT

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2024

Manjrekar took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment on Kohli’s dismissal:
“One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially his adamance to not try another way to tackle it.”

Kohli, who once averaged 54.98 at the end of 2019, has seen his career Test average dip to 47.91. Over 120 matches and 204 innings, he has amassed 9,152 runs, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. However, since the start of 2020, Kohli has struggled for consistency, scoring just 1,950 runs in 36 Tests at an average of 32.50, with three centuries. His form in 2024 has been underwhelming, with 362 runs in eight Tests at an average of 27.84.

India’s innings in the second Test at Adelaide Oval started poorly after electing to bat first. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a golden duck, but KL Rahul (37 off 64) and Shubman Gill (31 off 51) steadied the ship briefly with a 69-run partnership. However, wickets tumbled regularly after their dismissals.

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Nitish Kumar Reddy (42 off 54, with three fours and three sixes) and Ravichandran Ashwin (22 off 22) provided some resistance in the lower order, but India was eventually bowled out for 180. Mitchell Starc led Australia’s bowling attack with a sensational six-wicket haul (6/48), further cementing his reputation as one of the best pink-ball Test bowlers. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland chipped in with two wickets each.