Virat Kohli Struggles in SENA Conditions with Low Scores Against New Zealand
Kohli's Ongoing Battle in SENA Conditions
Mount Maunganui [New Zealand], November 15: Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's quest for a century in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA) has extended to seven years, as he recorded his third consecutive single-digit score against New Zealand at Bay Oval on Sunday, marking an 11-year low in his performance. After a brisk 51-ball 74 in the first ODI while chasing a target of 143 runs in a rain-affected match, Kohli's subsequent outings saw him score just seven runs in the second ODI and a four-ball duck in the fourth ODI, where he was bowled out by a delivery from Matt Henry.
Fans were hopeful for a significant performance from Kohli in the crucial fifth ODI, but he disappointed with only five runs off seven balls, caught behind by Tim Seifert while attempting an ambitious shot against Matthew Fisher. Despite accumulating only 86 runs over four innings at an average of 21.50, Kohli emerged as India's leading run-scorer in this series dominated by bowlers. This marked the fourth instance of Kohli achieving three single-digit scores in an ODI series, with previous occurrences in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the 2012/13 Pakistan tour of India, and the 2014/15 tri-nation series in Australia featuring England.
Kohli remains a formidable player in ODIs, amassing 638 runs in 14 matches and 13 innings this year, averaging 53.16 with two centuries and four fifties, including a top score of 139* and a strike rate of 118.60. However, his performance at home contrasts sharply with his struggles in SENA conditions. In six innings at home this year, he has scored 408 runs at an impressive average of 81.60 and a strike rate of 121.42, including two centuries and a fifty. Conversely, in SENA conditions, he has only managed 230 runs in seven innings, averaging 32.85 with a strike rate of 114.42, and has scored just six fifties, with the rest being single-digit scores.
This trend is not new for Kohli, as he has not scored a century in SENA conditions since 2019, with his last century against Australia in Adelaide. Since then, he has accumulated 701 runs in 22 matches and 21 innings at an average of 35.05 and a strike rate of 89.98, including nine fifties. While nine fifties in 21 innings is commendable, he has also recorded scores below 20 in several innings, including four ducks, raising concerns as the 2027 World Cup approaches, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. His overall performance improves slightly when considering other overseas matches post-2019, with 1,233 runs in 39 matches and 35 innings at an average of 38.53, including three centuries and ten fifties, with a best score of 122*. In contrast, Kohli has excelled at home, scoring 2,253 runs in 41 ODIs at an average of 67.22 and a strike rate exceeding 102, with nine centuries and 15 fifties, and a top score of 166*.
In the final ODI against New Zealand at Bay Oval, the Indian batting lineup struggled against the effective bowling of Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, and captain Mitchell Santner, failing to establish a solid foundation. The team was bowled out for 209 runs in 42.1 overs, with Ishan Kishan (46 runs off 58 balls, including three fours and two sixes), Axar Patel (46 runs off 55 balls, with five fours and a six), and captain Shreyas Iyer (22 runs off 26 balls, with three fours) providing some promising starts after early dismissals of Rohit Sharma (7) and Kohli (5). However, Duffy (3/60), Santner (3/47), and Fisher (2/28) consistently broke partnerships just as they began to flourish.