Brad Hogg links Virat Kohli’s poor form to off-field pressures

Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg has suggested that Virat Kohli’s recent poor performance may be due to "drama off the field" rather than just his on-field struggles. Kohli, who had a disappointing run in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring only 190 runs in 10 innings, has faced increased scrutiny following India’s 1-3 series loss to Australia. His form in 2023 was also underwhelming, with only 655 runs in 23 matches, averaging 21.83.

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Hogg, speaking on his YouTube channel, pointed to Kohli’s personal commitments, including family responsibilities, as a factor affecting his cricket. He noted that Kohli now has a family and other off-field obligations that may have diverted his focus, compared to when he was dominating all formats of the game.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently introduced a new policy limiting players’ family time during tours to 14 days. Hogg believes this could add more stress to Kohli, who has already been juggling multiple pressures. He argued that players should be allowed more time with their families, especially given the hectic travel and scheduling demands of modern cricket.

Kohli’s Test form has been in decline since 2020, with his average dipping to 30.72 in the last 39 matches. Despite this, Hogg emphasized that the team’s broader cultural issues, especially in the dressing room, should not be overlooked.