IND vs BAN: Virat Kohli and KL Rahul not the same force at home, numbers show struggle since 2021

The India vs Bangladesh Test series starts on September 19, and once again, all eyes will be on the home batsmen to score runs in bulk, against the relatively easier opponents. The Bangladeshi side would be looking for their first Test win against India, and would be hoping for a miracle, like they did versus Pakistan, when they beat them 2-0 in the recently concluded Test series.

India, in their ranks have the likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who will have to do the bulk of the scoring. But even before the start of the IND vs BAN Tests, there is a but of a problem for Gautam Gambhir’s men.

Major Drop for Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma

It is their dwindling batting form at home. Don’t get us wrong, India is a brilliant batting side, and these players have great numbers, but their form at home since 2021 has come down by a considerable margin. Let’s dig deep, now.

Starting with Virat Kohli, he has exceptional record overall in Tests, away & and home both. In India, he has played 54 Tests and scored 4,144 runs at an average of over 60 with 14 tons and 12 fifties. But the real problem lies in his home record in the last three years. Kohli has only managed to score runs at an average of 34.47 in 11 Tests in this time frame, with just one century, as per ESPNCricinfo.

Moving on to skipper Rohit, in 29 matches at home he averages 61.58, and has 10 tons and seven 50s to his name. Whereas since 2021, his average has dropped to 44.87 only, that includes four centuries. Then Pant, overall he has played 8 matches at home, and scored runs at an average of 63.90. But in the last 6 matches since 2021, his numbers have dropped to 56.87 with one ton.

KL Rahul has also suffered quite a bit in India. He averages 41.24 in the country overall, but in the last three years, he has managed to score runs at 29.20 only.

Ravindra Jadeja emerges only hope

Surprisingly, Jadeja is the only batter from the current squad, who has improved on his numbers in the last three years, as compared to his overall stats in India. He averages 39.65 in 44 Tests at home, while since 2021, he has taken that number to 41.20 in 11 Tests, including 2 hundreds.

Poor returns might not impact results

While the returns might have been poor for the Indian batsmen at home in the last few years, they have done enough to ensure team’s dominant run. In this time frame, despite the batters’ struggle, India has managed to win 12 Tests from 17, where they have lost only three. So, again, this struggle might not have an immediate impact on the IND vs BAN series, but it is surely something to take note of, if we want to be the best team in the world.