Virat Kohli is a powerful figure in Indian cricket without a shade of doubt. From team selection to appointment of coaches and other management decisions, the skipper is believed to play a key role, even if not interfering publically.

At Christchurch, as he reviewed the on-field umpiring decision that went against him, one couldn’t help but wonder if his power has transcended acceptable levels. Tim Southee befuddled him with an outswinger that didn't swing as much and Kohli played all-around it to be trapped in front. The umpire had raised his fingers after Southee's assured appeal. Kohli seemed uncertain about reviewing but Pujara apparently did not seem to be or did not want to be sending back his skipper. The review was signalled and it showed that the ball pitched right, the impact was in line and that the ball was hitting the stumps resulting in India losing their review and Kohli losing his wicket.

As it turns out, this is the 12th unsuccessful review Virat Kohli has taken while batting and being adjudged out. He has taken a total of 14 reviews with just two calls being overturned so far.

12 instances of Kohli reviewing wrong in Tests

Aus in Bengaluru - lbw Lyon

SL in Delhi — lbw Sandakan

SA in Cape Town — lbw Philander

SA at Centurion — lbw Ngidi

ENG at Edgbaston—lbw Stokes

ENG at Lord’s—c Pope b Broad

ENG at Trent Bridge— lbw Woakes

ENG at Southampton —c Cook b Ali

WI at Hyderabad—lbw Holder

SA at Ranchi—lbw Nortje

BAN at Indore - lbw Abu Jayed

NZ at Christchurch - lbw Southee

The last time when Virat Kohli successfully used DRS to overturn a decision against him as a batsman was in Kolkata against Sri Lanka in 2017. Since then Kohli has been unsuccessful in overturning decisions against him on eleven successive occasions in Tests.

For a captain at least, that’s a horrible record. Only three of those (Trent Bridge, Hyderabad and Ranchi) were umpire’s call which means that on the remaining nine occasions, his decision to call upon DRS cost India a review.

Fans and analysts among others questioned Kohli’s poor decision making on social media.

But it also raises another pertinent question. Are the non-striker’s, often the decision makers when it comes to reviewing, scared to tell Virat Kohli that he cannot take a review? If in three years, Kohli has used 12 reviews in vain, it also speaks volumes about the non-strikers who are either equally poor in spotting that the review would be in vain or hesitate to tell their skipper that the review would be wasted.

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Peter Parks 

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