Legendary Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is known as one of the greatest batters in cricket history as every legend and cricket expert has highly praised his batting quality, which is amazing to watch. While it is very sad to see Kohli's recent struggle, especially in Test cricket, AI has recently revealed the reason for Kohli's recent failure in red-ball cricket.  

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batters in all cricket formats. The right-handed batter holds the record for most ODI centuries (51) as well as the second most centuries in international cricket with 82 hundreds. Recently, Kohli performed impressively during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where Rohit Sharma-led India won the trophy by winning all the five matches.  

In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Kohli was the fifth most run-scorer with 218 runs in five innings with an average of 54.50 and a strike rate of 82.88. The right-handed batter scored his 51st century against Pakistan in the group stage match, where he scored a match-winning 100 not out and played another crucial match-winning 84 runs against Australia in the Semi-final during a tricky chase. 

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Virat Kohli is struggling in Test cricket

While Kohli is still shining in the white-ball cricket, his recent Test form isn't good enough. In the last 3-4 years, his Test batting performance has been downgraded, and the right-handed batter even failing to provide starts in the red-ball format.

Virat Kohli has technical issues against pace and spin

While a social media user asked Grok AI, generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, the reason for Kohli's recent struggle in Test cricket, it has answered quite efficiently. It claimed that Kohli has technical issues against pace and spin. While the right-handed batter struggles to judge the length of the ball from the spinners, his front foot commits early against the pacers and harder hands play more dangerous roles for his dismissals at slip against the pacers. It further added former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik's point as the white-ball cricket can also affect Kohli's defensive skills.

Virat Kohli Grok se 🤣😭 pic.twitter.com/VITF6A64dU

— Raja Babu (@GaurangBhardwa1) March 15, 2025

Indian cricket is more than a game. it is a money spinner that fuels the world cricket economy. A recent case in point is from Lord's, the legendary ground hosting the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final in June 2025. News is that Lord's will lose almost 4 million in revenue as India failed to make it to the final.

The Financial Power of Indian Cricket

India's participation in any high-profile ICC tournament ensures sold-out crowds, record viewership, and huge sponsorship agreements. The Indian fan community, both within India and around the world, is unparalleled. From ticketing to merchandise sales to broadcasting rights, Indian cricket earns a huge amount of money and is thus the most valuable asset for cricket globally.

The 2021 WTC Final between New Zealand and India at Southampton generated huge interest despite pandemic restrictions. When India hosted Australia at The Oval in 2023, the Indian fans packed the stands and gave an electric environment. India's absence from the 2025 final translates to a decline in revenue, impacting ticket sales, hospitality, and local businesses surrounding the venue.

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Why Does India's Absence Matter?

Cricket boards, broadcasters, and sponsors depend heavily on India's presence to make maximum profits. Indian supporters travel in huge numbers, packing stadiums globally. India's absence makes the commercial viability of the WTC Final suffer. Even neutral supporters admit that an India-powered final generates more engagement and interest than other teams.

The Bigger Picture

This is indicative of the increasing reliance of world cricket on India. Cricket may be a world sport, but no other side has the same economic clout. The ICC and the countries hosting the tournaments are aware that without India, the economics of cricket tournaments take a hit.

India's not being part of the WTC 2025 Final can be seen as a reminder of how Indian cricket is so important to the international game. On or off the field, the influence of Indian cricket cannot be denied.

For nearly a decade, cricket fans worldwide admired the legendary 'Fab Four': Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. These four players were the biggest faces in international cricket, across formats, for almost a decade, bombarding records with great consistency, technique, and leadership. However, as time passes, the once-invicible quartet is now showing signs of fading away, raising questions about the next era of cricketing greats.

The Fab Four In Tests
Test cricket has been the ultimate proving ground for these four marstros. Kohli's dominant captaincy and stroke play, Smith's unorthodox but very effective technique, Williamson's calmness, and Root's classical style make them a force to reckon with. However, with age comes a different team dynamic, slowly nearing the edge of this sheer joy. Though Root and Williamson continue to be key players for their teams, Smith and Kohli have, in more recent years, struggled to provide that consistency.

The Fab Four In ODIs
The Image in below post a noticeable shift - Smith has turned black and white, suggesting that he is no longer capable of using his own skills. While modern-day cricket embraces power-hitting and aggressive strike rates, the dominance of the Fab Four in ODIs has been challenged by rising stars such as Babar Azam and Shubman Gill. While Kohli is still as formidable as ever, his role continues to evolve, while Williamson and Root seem to be throwing in the towel and unable to maintain their high standards in ODIs.

The Fab-four are fading away 😢 pic.twitter.com/4bWDFpsdDP

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 5, 2025

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The T20I Scenario of the Fab Four 
If there is one thing to take away from this image of T20 cricket, it is that the influential players of the format—Captain Kohli, Captain Smith, and Captain Root—all have reduced influences on T20. Power hitters and batting with a focus on the strike rate have largely edged out these players. Even though Williamson is hailed as an astute captain, he has not been hitting it big in terms of strike rates. As for Root, he has rarely made an appearance on the T20I stage.

The Future of the Fab Four 
Now as the Fab Four slowly dissolve, they leave behind unanswered questions: who will be winning these winks instead? Enter Babar Azam, Marnus Labuschagne, and Shubman Gill, who are already making their presence felt. But Kohli, Smith, Williamson, and Root will be an impossible feat to replicate. Cricket is in a state of transition.

Although the Fab Four show every sign of no longer being in their prime, their endeavors have forever inscribed them into history. Whether they will have a second innings or leave the scene gracefully will still play out. For now, it is the fans who can only turn back the pages of history and reminisce about the golden age they created.

Karun Nair, the gifted Indian batsman, is back in the news again for his unbelievable consistency in domestic cricket. Having become only the second Indian to score a Test triple century, Nair's international career took an unexpected turn, but his recent performances indicate that he is now set for a national comeback. With multiple centuries and match-winning knocks, Nair is proving that he still has a lot to offer Indian cricket.

A Match-Winning Performance

Karun Nair stepped up when the chips were down. 

He hit 86 in the first innings and then an excellent 135 in the second.

His timely knocks enabled Vidarbha to gain the upper hand over Kerala in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final.

Karun Nair's Recent Domestic Cricket Performance

Nair's last 17 innings in domestic cricket have been nothing but breathtaking:                                                                                            122(108), 44(52), 163*(107), 111*(103), 112(101), 122*(82), 88*(44), 27(31), 39(80), 4(7), 3(13), 105(193), 122(243), 45(70), 6(17), 86(188), 135(295)**

• 860 runs in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 with a dazzling average of 57.33.
• 779 runs in Vijay Hazare Trophy with an astounding average of 389.50 with five centuries.

Such a consistency across formats makes him a prime candidate for an India comeback.

The 'Nine' Celebration – A Message to Selectors?

After crossing his century, Nair gestured a 'nine' with his hands. Several people felt this was a message to BCCI selectors, as he has been overlooked for international selection since 2017. However, Nair soon explained that it was a premeditated gesture for the Vidarbha support staff, as he was celebrating his ninth century of the season.

Should Karun Nair be recalled to an India Test?

Even after scoring a record triple century (303*) in 2016, Nair has been ignored for the Indian team since 2017. But with India's middle-order struggling in the current England series, his present form makes him a prime choice for selection.

Karun Nair's run-scoring exploits in the Ranji Trophy final and in the domestic season have once again raised questions regarding his inclusion in the Indian Test team. Given his experience, reliability, and desire for runs, he could very well prove to be India's solution for the middle order.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating a strategy to keep players engaged with red-ball cricket throughout the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This is before India's five-Test series in England in June-July, following the IPL. The scheme might involve players showing up at "occasional red-ball practice sessions" or other bizarre pursuits of some players.

🚨 RED BALL PRACTICE DURING IPL 🚨

- BCCI is working on a strategy to ensure players remain in touch with Test cricket ahead of England tour, it is likely that players might be ask for occasional practice with red ball during IPL. [Cricbuzz] pic.twitter.com/qil9BUrUwG

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 25, 2025

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The BCCI plans to not let the players lose touch with Test cricket during the two-month-long IPL tournament, to be held between March 22 and May 25.
The very specifics of the plan have yet to be known.
However, preliminary discussions of this twin-track approach have already been made by prominent players from the Indian team management and BCCI planners in Dubai.
The BCCI's decision to keep players engaged with red-ball cricket during the IPL season is in response to India's recent Test performance.
The team has not won a single Test series in England recently. The trend features a 4-0 loss in 2011, a 3-1 loss in 2014, and a 4-1 loss in 2018.
India earned their first away Test series draw in England (2-2 in 2021). It was split due to COVID-19, with the last Test won by England a year later.

The BCCI is ready to move on from Rohit Sharma in Test cricket, Jasprit Bumrah expected to be the next captain. One of the main reasons India didn’t want to risk Bumrah for the 2025 Champions Trophy was to protect his fitness for the long time, and to see as a great Captain.

According to reports, the National Cricket Academy (NCA), led by Nitin Patel, left the final decision on Bumrah’s selection to chief selector Ajit Agarkar. While his medical reports were clear, he hadn’t started bowling at full intensity. With the tournament just a week away, the selectors decided it was better not to select him for the ICC Champions Trophy. But this decision wasn’t just about keeping him fit as a bowler. The BCCI has almost finalized him as India’s next Test captain, with his leadership  and skills expected to begin during the England tour in June-July this year.

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Rohit Sharma Likely to Be Dropped from Tests, Jasprit Bumrah Set to Take Over as Captain

Bumrah has already led India in three Tests, when Rohit was unavailable. His first time as captain was in 2022, during the fifth Test against England in Birmingham, where India lost in that match. He then captained India in Perth last year, leading the team to a win against Australia when Rohit was away for the birth of his second child. He also led in the final Test in Sydney, after Rohit surprisingly dropped himself. Unfortunately, Bumrah got injured after bowling just 10 overs, and India lost the match.

Rohit Sharma will not be picked for Tests again, BCCI convinced about new India captain (PTI) pic.twitter.com/8mUQMeePUy

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) February 15, 2025

Meanwhile, Rohit’s Test form has gone down. In 2024, he averaged below 25 and struggled with too many low scores. Since winning the T20 World Cup, his Test performances have not good, scoring just 164 runs at an average of 10.9 in his last eight matches. To make things worse, India lost all six Tests under his captaincy from late 2024 to early 2025, including a shocking home whitewash against New Zealand and three defeats in Australia. His performances in Australia 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6, 10, and 3 only added to the concerns to change the Captaincy.

Rohit has said he has no plans to retire from any format, but it looks like the selectors have already spoken to him about the future. He will turn 38 in April, and by the next World Test Championship final, he will be 40. The selectors believe it’s the right time to find a new captain. With Bumrah being good and his skills and peformances shows that he will the next captain for the team india , India’s Test team is set for a big change in leadership after the ICC Champions Trophy.

In February 2025, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey achieved a remarkable milestone in the history of Australian cricket. During the second Test of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium, Carey set a new record for the highest individual score by an Australian wicketkeeper-batter in Sri Lanka. Australian wicketkeeper-batters with the highest individual scores in Test matches in Sri Lanka:

• Alex Carey
• Ian Healy
• Adam Gilchrist

Alex Carey etches his name in history👏

A batting masterclass as he notches the highest individual score by an Australian wicketkeeper-batter in Sri Lanka.#SLvsAUS #AlexCarey pic.twitter.com/PqpoGWuCeg

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 8, 2025

Australia's Growth in Subcontinent Conditions 

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Australia has had difficult times playing in the subcontinent, generally not being able to come to terms with the spin-friendly wickets of the subcontinent, at least, the slow turning wickets there. However, players like Alex Carey would do their good part in rewriting that script for Australia. Such innings by Carey from Sri Lanka are evidence of how this team is learning to cope with the subcontinent conditions. These performances against tough bowling speaks volumes of the strength gaining in Australia's batting lineup to put a composed performance in the matters involving spin.
The record-breaking knock of Carey is another important moment in Australian cricket. While big names like Steve Smith and David Warner often hog the limelight, contributions by players like Carey are becoming increasingly important for Australian cricket. He would go down in history not just for his crucial moment for the team but for generations of cricketers as an inspiration who will face challenges and adjust to the most trying conditions. It was a lesson in resilience and adaptability in order to achieve success at international levels.

Australian team gave a heartwarming guard of honour to Sri Lankan cricketing star Dimuth Karunaratne as he walked out to bat in his 100th and final Test match. It was beautiful respect and admiration for this cricketing star from the cricketers around from the world.

A Tribute Fit for a Legend
Karunaratne has been a rock for over a decade at the top of Sri Lanka's batting lineup, and playing 100 Test matches is something that only a few cricketers achieve in their careers. Therefore, retirement at this peak moment makes it all the more special.
For the final time as a cricketer, the Australians prepared their formation, where one after the other stepped up and handed Karunaratne the honour guard before the crease while they were all clapping at him. The action demonstrated pure sportsmanship apart from Australia.Coming generations will speak about Karunaratne contributed to cricketing.

Australian team giving Guard of Honour to Dimuth Karunaratne on his Final & 100th Test Match.

- DIMUTH KARUNARATNE, THE LEGEND FOR SRI LANKA. 🙇 pic.twitter.com/eTCmorlRpM

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 6, 2025

A Lasting Legacy
Karunaratne has been one of Sri Lanka's most dependable openers who has guided the team through difficult matches and led by example with his composure and leadership. Many match winning performances have came from him as one of Sri Lanka's greatest cricketers.
Even though he is handing over his cricket in Test cricket to the next stars, the impact he has made for Sri Lanka Cricket will last for years.
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Dimuth Karunaratne, a legend, a leader, and an inspiration!

West Indies to a momentous historic victory over Pakistan by 120 runs in their day 3 Match of the 2nd Test at Multan by starring on Thursday.It now tied the two-match series at 1-1 and West Indies' first win in Pakistan in 34 years.

Pakistan needed 178 on day four to win and the West Indies had to get six wickets to take the series. This morning the pitch was starting up with Kevin Sinclair rounding off the morning, bag of Saud Shakeel as he lobbed a leading edge straight to first slip.Warrican accounted for another wicket, in the second ball of day when he had nightwatchman Kashif Ali lbw to the bowling of Imran Nazir.

Sandeep Chopra and Salman Agha started quickly reprising of the wickets by new batters Mohammad Rizwan, 7 runs each. But Warrican had Salman Agha caught behind lbw, very close. Rizwan was soon out through the gate by Warrican and after Pakistan's resistance waned, Noman Ali hit a six off Gudakesh Motie but couldn; t prevent the subsequent wicket at mid-on to Warrican changing catches. Rizwan missed wicket number five to maintain the match and Wesley was dismissed by Sajid Khan coming onto off stump.osity eventually handed West Indies victoryasily. 

Brief scores: West Indies 163 (Gudakesh Motie 55 Jomel Warrican 36*; Noman ali 6-42) and 244 (Kraigg Brathwaite 52; Sajid Khan 4-76, Noman ali 4-80) beat Pakistan 154 (Mohammad Rizwan 49; Jomel Warrican 4-43, Gudakesh Motie 3-49) and 133 (Babar Azam 31, Mohammad Rizwan 25; Jomel Warrican 5-27, Kevin Sinclair 3-61) by 120 runs.

WEST INDIES IN THIS DECADE IN TEST CRICKET:

- A Test win in Australia.
- A Test win in England.
- A Test win in Bangladesh.
- A Test win in Pakistan.

WEST INDIES CRICKET ON THE RISE. 🙇‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/eIPKnEWkMi

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 27, 2025