Virat Kohli’s manages to score just 58 runs in 3 ODIs vs SL as his post T20 World Cup vacation continues
Maybe it would have been best if Gautam Gambhir hadn’t called Virat Kohli up for the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. The modern 50-over great has a stupendous record in the limited-overs format and should have rather extended his stay with his family rather than struggle on a slow and spin-friendly pitch in Colombo.
He deserved some time to kick up his feet after a long and arduous IPL 2024 season, which was followed directly by the T20 World Cup. But with the ICC Champions Trophy in mind, Gambhir decided that it’d be best for India and Kohli that he be present in Sri Lanka. Given that just 6 ODIs were left before the tournament starts in February next year, it was a good call to get Kohli back in ODIs. It’s fair to say neither Gambhir nor Kohli thought it’d blow up in their faces.
Kohli faced just 69 deliveries in the 3-match series. Given how the surface in Colombo helps the spinners, just 20% of the balls he faced were from fast bowlers. We know how good Kohli is against the spinners, but he’s on a different level when it comes to facing pace.