'Go back to domestic cricket' - Dinesh Karthik's advice to Virat Kohli amid Test struggles

Virat Kohli has been far from his best in the longest format of the game for quite some time. His last Test century came in 2023. In the last five years, he has just two centuries to show for his efforts. The 35-year-old's performances have come under the scanner after India lost their first-ever Test series on home soil against New Zealand last week.

Kohli's struggles against spinners have been evident once again in this series. In the second innings of the first Test in Bengaluru, the right-handed batter was dismissed by off-spinner Glenn Phillips. Meanwhile, in the second Test in Pune, he lost his wicket to left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner in both innings.

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik noted that Kohli's dismissals to spinners has become a recurring pattern, and it is something that the talismanic batter needs to work on.

"Virat Kohli has not had it easy, the series has not been good to him, three out of four innings, he has disappointed. It's obviously a recurring partner where spinners have troubled him, and I think he will go and figure out what he needs to do to come out stronger. He is a man, who is searching for answers. When you reach that level of genius and super stardom, you will be thrown challenges and here is another challenge. India likes to play on pitches that aids spin, what is his gameplan?" said Dinesh Karthik while speaking to Cricbuzz.

Also Read: 'Virat Kohli has two centuries in five years' - Aakash Chopra highlights star batter's dismal batting form in Tests

Probably go back to domestic cricket: Dinesh Karthik

Karthik, who has shared the Indian as well as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room with Kohli, said that returning to domestic cricket could be beneficial for the former India captain.

"We all know what he is capable [of], this series was not meant to be. Like the fans have been saying, he has not done it for a long time and that we cannot run away from. We don't want to sugarcoat it because we want to be as objective in assessing any player, any performance, at the moment Virat Kohli's Test record in the last 2-3 years, has not been great against spin," said Karthik.

"What we needs to do, is probably go back to domestic cricket and focus on what needs to be done with the current rules of DRS. There is no doubt the left-arm spinners pose a big threat," he added.

Also Read: Reports: Rohit, Kohli leave for Mumbai to be with family hours after Pune defeat

Kohli has scored just 88 runs from four innings so far against the Kiwis. In the second innings of the first Test, he scored a fluent 70 and it seemed that he was getting his mojo back. However, in the second Test, he could only score one and 17 in the two innings, respectively.