Virat Kohli overconfident? After Perth hundred, star batter decides to skip India vs PM’s XI match

Virat Kohli opted to miss the India vs Prime Minister’s (PM) XI match. The former Indian skipper had been going through a rough patch but turned it around in the second innings of the Perth Test. In what was his 7th hundred in Australia, Kohli ensured only victory was an option for India at the Optus Stadium.

No Virat Kohli in India vs PM’s XI match

Back in form, Kohli chose to skip the India vs PM’s XI game. He didn’t come onto the field as visitors bowled first but was slotted at number four. However, when the time came, it was the Indian captain Rohit Sharma who came to bat at the position. It’s uncertain whether Kohli himself decided he didn’t need to have a hit or the management wanted to test other batters.

But the decision seems weird either way. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who all things considered played better than Kohli, came to open the innings. Jaiswal managed to score 45 runs before getting caught, while Rahul retired after scoring 27. If the openers can be allowed to have a bat in the Day and Night practice game, why couldn’t Kohli? 

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Will skipping Pink ball practice match backfire?

It’s not like he’s been hitting hundreds left and right. It was his first ton of 2024. Now, it’s not like he didn’t prepare for the pink ball Test at all. He did face Jasprit Bumrah in the nets of the Manuka Oval but wouldn’t have it been better had he faced Scott Boland bowling with the pink ball in the evening when the ball was doing a bit and might have been tough to spot. 

These real-match situations could come in handy during the India vs Australia 2nd Test. Also, Kohli’s record in Pink Ball Tests isn’t that flattering. He started with 210 runs in the first two innings but since has scored just 67 runs in 4 outings. In Adelaide, Kohli has played a Day and Night Test, where he scored 78 runs (74 and 4). 

But he was at the peak of his powers then. That isn’t the case anymore. It might have done Kohli and Team India a world of good had they decided to let him play, but that wasn’t the case. It’s not to be seen how he performs in a week’s time. 

Virat Kohli’s record in Pink ball Test matches