WTC Final: Will New Zealand be able to dismiss Virat Kohli within the first 30 balls of his innings?

The much awaited inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and New Zealand is only a couple of days away from getting underway. A lot has been already said about the summit clash with the experts picking their favourites. It is definitely a battle between two fantastic bowling line-ups in favourable conditions but one batsman who holds key to India’s success is Virat Kohli.

The Indian skipper loves to lead from the front always but unfortunately, hasn’t clicked for the team in the last few ICC tournament knockouts. No wonder he will have his eyes set on the big prize as India aim to win their first ICC trophy under Virat Kohli’s leadership. For that to happen, Kohli has to perform to the best of his abilities with the bat and most importantly, he should be very careful early on in his innings.

Virat Kohli’s single digit scores against New Zealand in Tests (Caught, Bowled and lbw)

Any batsman is a bit nervous early in the innings but Virat Kohli is more vulnerable, especially when the red cherry is new. He has been dismissed by the New Zealand bowlers (caught, bowled and lbw) for single digit scores on five occasions. And most of the times, the dismissals have been lbw or caught by wicketkeeper or in the slip. The best example of the same was India’s New Zealand tour in 2020 when Kohli was dismissed for 2 and 3 in the first innings of both the Tests.

Another interesting point to note here is, Virat Kohli’s all single scores against New Zealand have come in the first innings, home and away both. His dismissals on New Zealand tour last year are a perfect testament to how the 32-year-old is very much vulnerable early on to the outside the off-stump line or in his defence.

Kyle Jamieson, the debutant then, got the better of him in the first innings of the opening Test. Kohli chased a wide delivery to play a cover drive and ended up edging the ball to the slips. Tim Southee, his nemesis at the international level, dismissed him in the first innings of the second and final Test with a fullish delivery which was attacking the stumps catching him plumb in front.

However, when it comes to England, Virat Kohli significantly improved his game when India toured in 2018. All his single digit scores in the country (when dismissed caught, bowled and lbw) came during the dreaded 2014 tour.

Virat Kohli’s single scores in England in Tests (Caught, Bowled and lbw)

Virat Kohli prone to getting out until he crosses 30

In the testing conditions, Virat Kohli is still not set even after getting into double figures. He can still bluffed with the different lines and lengths and the best example of the same was Trent Boult catching him off guard with a well directed short delivery. After he got into the double-digit scores, the left-arm seamer came round the wicket to attack with an aim to attack the stumps.

But Boult surprised Kohli with a short ball who was already forward expecting a fuller length delivery outside off. The latter then looked to take on the bouncer and was expectedly late in going back and playing a pull shot eventually edging the ball to the keeper.

Scores between 10 and 30 against New Zealand in Tests (All type of dismissals)

On the other hand, Colin de Grandhomme got the better of Kohli while on 14 with a delivery that was on a fullish length and cut back in sharply. Kohli was vulnerable with his front-foot planted and his head fell over on the off-side even as the ball thudded into the pads in front of the off-stump. Another noteworthy point in this aspect is, the Indian captain got out to four different bowlers during New Zealand tour last year, all of whom will be most probably playing in the WTC Final.

Until he crosses the 30-run mark, Kohli remains vulnerable to getting out to the pacers as only thrice, and that too twice in India, he was dismissed by the spinners. In England too, India’s number four was undone by the pacers, all different, and twice in 2018, after crossing the 30-run mark. This proves that Virat Kohli should not be complacent with the bat in the WTC Final even after spending a lot of time in the middle until he crosses 30.

Scores between 10 and 30 in England in Tests (All type of dismissals)

But what after Virat Kohli crosses the 30-run mark?

Now through the whole article, it has been told how Virat Kohli is vulnerable before early on in his innings and before getting to the 30-run mark. Well, has any one imagined his numbers after crossing 30? He is literally unstoppable against New Zealand after getting his eyes in.

Overall, in 8 innings Kohli has managed to cross 30 and has scored 678 runs at a terrific average of 113. He has also scored three centuries, including a double-century, and three fifties which is truly magnificent. This makes it clear that the Kiwis will have to dismiss the Indian captain as early as possible or else they will have to chase the leather in the final.

Scores after crossing 30 against NZ in Tests (All type of dismissals and not-outs also considered)