Is Virat Kohli's loss of form a concern for the Indian camp?

When India`s Tour of England started they were touted to lose the series by a whitewash. If this was not enough, our very own former selector Dilip Vengsarkar showed little confidence in our bowlers to take 20 wickets in a match to win it. Despite that team India never lost focus and started the series very well. The first test match that was played in Nottingham was one encouraging factor for the team although it ended in a draw. Murali Vijay scored a very patient hundred and the tail-end batsmen showed that they can battle to put up some runs on the board. Even the bowlers started off brilliantly but could not capitalise on the start they had got. The first test match ended in a draw with few more positives coming from the second innings like the way Stuart Binny batted to save India the blues.

What was conspicuous to note was the failure of the next Star batman Virat Kohli in both the innings of the first test match. Kohli failed to even cross the double digit mark in both the innings and had hardly pent any time at the crease. But given the reputation Kohli has made, everyone expected him to comeback and show his class. But then came this green track at LORD`S and the Indian batsmen crumbled. Kohli looked illustrious in his short 40 ball knock of 25 runs where he hit four crisp boundaries before he succumbed to a classic ball by Anderson. Till the time Kohli was there on the crease the batting looked easy. Soon, India had lost 4 quick wickets. Rahane being the saviour scored a brilliant ton.

What was irritating to see was the way this Delhi lad got out in the second innings of the test match. he got out while he was leaving a delivery just around the off stump which sharply came in and kissed his off stump. This is a perfect sign of a batsman who is unsure of his off stump. We saw a few TV recordings where he was seen practicing the art of leaving deliveries outside the off stump. For a batsman like Kohli, one should let him be himself, his natural self. Scoring runs comes naturally to him. Yes, he has to be watchful early on in the innings but his natural game is to score runs than wait.

The form of Virat Kohli is a worrying sign for India as India cant just sit and relax after winning the second test match. India`s No. 4 batsman is one of the key batsman in the middle order and we have seen how the middle order has collapsed in the first two innings of the series. having said that, Kohli should be told to be his natural self.

I have this feeling that the win that the team had in the second test is going to give him some confidence. He must now be assured that there are other batsman who can get runs and all the expectations are not on his head. I expect him to bounce back and score a brilliant hundred this test match.