"He will score tons and tons of runs" - Robin Uthappa's massive prediction of Virat Kohli during BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Former cricketer Robin Uthappa is confident of Virat Kohli turning things around in the upcoming months. He reckoned that if the ace batter can make a few technical adjustments, he will have a fabulous year.

Kohli's outside off-stump Achilles heel was at full display in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia. He kicked off the tour with a stunning 100*-run knock in India's second innings of the Test series opener at Perth.

However, it has all been downhill from there as he ultimately finished with 190 runs across nine innings at an average of just 23.75. The former captain registered scores of 36 and 5 in the ongoing fifth and final Test of the series.

Despite the similar pattern of his dismissals, Uthappa didn't rule out a thumping comeback from the seasoned campaigner. Suggesting that Kohli will be back to his vintage best in 2025, here's what he said in a video shared on his Instagram handle:

"I think he has got a good two or three years if not more left in him. Depends on his motivational levels as well. I believe that post-February this year, he will score tons and tons of runs. There is a little technical aspect he needs to pay attention to. If he pays attention to that and addresses it, I am certain we will see the Virat of the old and we will see Virat scoring runs by the buckets. I am telling you, he will score runs by the buckets in 2025."

It is worth mentioning that all of Virat Kohli's eight dismissals in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy came on outside off-stump deliveries. It is a weakness that has haunted the champion batter for many years now.

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"He's tried everything within his, you know, capabilities" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Virat Kohli's outside off-stump woes

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Virat Kohli may have been dealing with self-doubt after repeatedly getting out in the same fashion during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

He pointed out that Kohli has tried various things to overcome the weakness, even trying to curb his natural instinct of getting a big front foot stride. Speaking about the 36-year-old, the cricketer-turned-commentator said on Star Sports (via Sports Tak):

"Lots of greats have gone through a rut, but not in the fashion where they've got out to one particular shot and the great has not been able to find a way. There's another quick point I want to make if you see that dismissal and you've got to feel for Virat Kohli. There were occasions when he was trying to leave balls outside the off on this occasion, after many years, Mark and Simon, you see that he's actually deep inside the batting crease.

"I mean, he's gone back and he's inside the batting crease. Now that is a very rare thing for Virat Kohli to do. You know, Virat Kohli loves getting outside the batting crease going forward. He's tried everything within his, you know, capabilities and on this occasion he tried being inside the batting crease, same result. What do you do? And Mark makes a good point about him now having clear self-doubt with what has happened and with the sameness of the end for every innings."

Virat Kohli has failed to perform consistently in Test cricket in the past few years. He averaged 55.10 in the format in October 2019. His Test average has now dropped down to 46.85.