Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli has hit a worrying slump, registering two consecutive ducks for the first time in his illustrious ODI career - an eight-ball duck in the first game and a four-ball out in the next. 

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has publicly labelled Kohli “unsettled” and urged him to take a leaf out of his teammate Shreyas Iyer’s book. Kaif praised Iyer’s fluency - attributed to his ongoing participation in India A and domestic matches - and suggested Kohli regain rhythm through similar match practice. 

Kohli’s recent recalls have been limited to ODIs after stepping away from Tests and T20Is, reducing his regular competitive exposure. Kaif’s argument: staying match-sharp like Iyer is the key to finding form and restoring confidence. 

For the Indian team, the issue is critical. With Kohli arguably still a pillar, his lack of timing and “out-of-touch” appearance is raising questions about his future role and the team’s batting stability ahead of major tournaments. The call now is for Kohli to rebuild momentum, revisit the basics, and perhaps reintegrate into match practice more often to recapture his trademark hunger and consistency.