"Not the same player" - Wasim Jaffer rues "unlucky" Virat Kohli's lackluster IND vs SL 2022 series

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer rued the Indian top-order's patchy form, Mayank Agarwal's failure to convert the starts and Virat Kohli's bad luck after Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.

In a deviation from India's age-old batting template, their batting in the two-Test series was carried mostly by the middle and lower-order. The top four of Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Hanuma Vihari, and Kohli all got decent starts but failed to convert them into milestones, scoring just one half-century between them in three innings.

Agarwal had a golden chance to cement his place as the reserve opener but could only muster 59 runs at an average of 19.67. Kohli, meanwhile, got out on low-keeping deliveries in both innings in Bengaluru. His aggregate of 81 runs in the series made his career average slip to under 50 for the first time in 40 Tests.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after the day's play, Wasim Jaffer said the top-order will be unhappy with its performance. He also remarked that Kohli, while being unlucky, isn't the "same player" he used to be. He said:

"A few of the top-order [batters] will be unhappy that they couldn't convert those starts into something big. I can understand it's not the pitch where you'll get big hundreds but somebody like Mayank will be unhappy that he got starts and then got out. Virat, obviously, is not the same player; he's been unlucky a couple of times..."

Adding to Kohli's dismissal, Wasim Jaffer said such poor luck is bound to strike players who have a career like the former captain. The 44-year-old, however, also argued that while he didn't expect Kohli to get his 71st international century in this game, he anticipated at least a half-century. Wasim Jaffer said:

"When you have a career like him, you are bound to get such deliveries but I hope, you know, it levels out very soon. We were hoping like always that the 71st hundred will come soon. This is again not the pitch for the 71st hundred but you would have liked to see him get at least 50-60. But, like I said, when you have such a big career, you are bound to get a few dismissals like that. Hopefully, not many more in the future."

Despite playing some crucial knocks in almost every series, Kohli has been unable to break his freakish big-score drought and has found ways to get out after getting his eye in. This series is yet another example of that. Now, he won't get the chance to get his 71st ton until after the IPL, which will last till late May.

"The Indian team is far, far stronger compared to this Sri Lankan side" - Wasim Jaffer

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer once again carried the batting to help India give Sri Lanka a target of 447. In response, the visitors stumbled to 28/1 at stumps, staring at yet another massive defeat and a 2-0 series loss on Monday.

When asked to comment on the lopsided nature of the series, Wasim Jaffer said India are "far, far too strong" for a young Sri Lankan team to challenge in their own den. He said:

"The quality of the sides - you know, the Indian team is far, far strong compared to this Sri Lankan side. There are a lot of youngsters in this (Sri Lankan) side and they'll learn. It's a tough place to tour, Indian and it won't be easy. This Indian team will never give it easy whether it's batting or bowling..."

Day 3 of the Test will begin at 2:00 pm IST.