9 July 2023, Mumbai: Former India player and cricket pundit Aakash Chopra has expressed his belief that the ‘Fab Four’ in Test cricket has now become the ‘Fab Three’, citing Virat Kohli’s recent numbers. Kohli, known for his class and quality, has experienced a lean patch in red-ball cricket, leading to a decline in his Test records.
The ‘Fab Four’ in Test cricket, consisting of Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson, were renowned for their exceptional performances. However, while the other three batsmen have consistently troubled their opponents, Kohli’s numbers have seen a dip, prompting the reevaluation of the ‘Fab Four’ title.
Chopra emphasizes Kohli’s exceptional performance between 2014 and 2019, during which he played 62 matches and scored 5695 runs at an average of 58.71, with 22 centuries to his name. Kohli was virtually unstoppable during this period, including a home season where he recorded four double centuries.
However, since the beginning of 2020, Kohli’s numbers have witnessed a significant decline. In the last 25 matches, he has scored 1277 runs at an average of 29.69, with just one century against Australia in Ahmedabad. These figures highlight a noticeable drop in Kohli’s Test performance compared to his earlier achievements.
Recently completing 12 years in Test cricket, Kohli expressed gratitude through a brief post on social media. Over the course of his career, the former India captain has played 109 Tests, accumulating 8,479 runs at an average of 48.72, including 28 centuries and an equal number of half-centuries. Despite his recent slump, Kohli’s Test career is still remarkable, marked by numerous records.