Virat Kohli’s Struggles Against Adil Rashid Continue – Is This a Genuine Weakness or Just a Bad Phase?
Virat Kohli’s woes against leg-spin resurfaced yet again as Adil Rashid dismissed him for the 11th time in international cricket, making the England spinner one of the biggest threats to Kohli’s batting dominance.
During the third ODI against England in Ahmedabad on February 12, Kohli looked set for a big score, registering his 73rd ODI half-century off 50 balls. However, just when it seemed like he was ready to convert it into a century, Rashid outfoxed him once again. The delivery, sharply turning from leg stump, took a faint edge and nestled into wicketkeeper Phil Salt’s gloves.
With this dismissal, Rashid now joins Tim Southee and Josh Hazlewood as the bowlers who have dismissed Kohli the most times in international cricket. But with Rashid having done it in fewer matches, does this indicate a genuine technical weakness in Kohli’s game?
Virat Kohli vs. Adil Rashid – The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Kohli’s repeated struggles against Rashid are no longer a coincidence. The numbers prove that the England leg-spinner has troubled him across formats consistently.
Bowlers Who Have Dismissed Kohli the Most in International Cricket
| Bowler | Times Dismissed Kohli | ODIs | T20Is | Tests |
| Tim Southee (NZ) | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Josh Hazlewood (AUS) | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Adil Rashid (ENG) | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| James Anderson (ENG) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Nathan Lyon (AUS) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
📌 Key Takeaways:
- Rashid has dismissed Kohli 5 times in ODIs in just 10 innings – a staggering 50% rate.
- This was the second consecutive ODI in which Rashid dismissed Kohli, raising fresh concerns ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
- Unlike seamers like Southee and Hazlewood, Rashid is a wrist-spinner—a type of bowler Kohli traditionally handles well.
But why does Rashid have such a strong hold over Kohli?
Why Does Adil Rashid Trouble Kohli So Much?
Rashid’s Smart Use of Drift & Turn
- Rashid drifts the ball into the leg stump before getting sharp turn away.
- Kohli, expecting a straighter delivery, gets beaten on the outside edge repeatedly.
Rashid Exploits Kohli’s Front-Foot Dependence
- Kohli is known for playing aggressively on the front foot.
- Rashid traps him by pulling the length back, forcing a false shot.
Rashid’s Mental Edge Over Kohli
- With 11 dismissals, Rashid knows Kohli doesn’t trust himself against him.
- Kohli often second-guesses his shots, leading to dismissals even on not-so-dangerous deliveries.
Kohli’s First Fifty in Nine Innings – A Sign of Improvement?
Despite his struggles against Rashid, Kohli finally broke a long lean patch with a solid 52 off 55 balls. This was his first international fifty since his century in the Perth Test against Australia.
📊 Kohli’s Last 9 Innings (Across Formats):
| Opponent | Format | Runs | Dismissal |
| England (3rd ODI) | ODI | 52 (55) | Caught (Rashid) |
| England (2nd ODI) | ODI | 5 (8) | LBW (Sam Curran) |
| Australia (Test) | Test | 19 | Bowled (Starc) |
| South Africa (ODI) | ODI | 82 (Not Out)* | Not Out |
| Sri Lanka (ODI) | ODI | 123 | Caught (Theekshana) |
| Pakistan (T20I) | T20I | 17 | Caught (Haris Rauf) |
| Australia (T20I) | T20I | 24 | Stumped (Adam Zampa) |
| West Indies (T20I) | T20I | 14 | Caught (Akeal Hosein) |
Kohli’s struggles over the past few months have been well-documented. With low scores across formats, critics have questioned whether his consistency is declining.
📌 Key Question:
Does this fifty mean Kohli is back in form, or is he still struggling to convert starts into big scores?
What This Means for the Champions Trophy 2025
With the ICC Champions Trophy starting on February 20, India’s biggest concern will be Kohli’s inconsistency.
Potential Issues for India:
- Kohli’s form remains a concern – While this fifty was a positive, he needs big match-winning scores.
- Teams will now deploy more leg-spinners against him, following Rashid’s blueprint.
- India needs Kohli in prime form for knockout-stage battles.
🚨 Who Could Trouble Kohli in the Champions Trophy?
| Bowler | Team | Bowling Type |
| Adam Zampa | Australia | Leg-Spinner |
| Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | Leg-Spinner |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | Leg-Spinner |
| Shadab Khan | Pakistan | Leg-Spinner |
With so many quality leg-spinners in the tournament, can Kohli overcome his weakness in time?
Should India Be Concerned About Kohli?
✅ Positives:
- Finally broke his nine-innings drought with a fifty.
- Built a crucial 116-run partnership with Shubman Gill.
- Showed glimpses of his old rhythm.
❌ Concerns:
- Still struggles to convert starts into centuries.
- Adil Rashid exposed his issues against leg-spin once again.
- Teams will target him with more leg-spinners in future matches.
🚨 Final Question: Is Kohli still India’s most reliable batter, or is his vulnerability against leg-spin now a major liability?
