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Virat Kohli's disappointing dismissal for just one run in the first innings against New Zealand has sparked fresh discussion about his absence from domestic cricket. Kohli fell victim to Mitchell Santner, who claimed a remarkable seven wickets, contributing to India's collapse to 156 all out.

During the second Test in Pune, Kohli’s dismissal was particularly surprising. Attempting a risky shot against a low full toss from Santner, Kohli went down on one knee, only to miss the ball completely as it crashed into his middle and leg stumps. The former Indian captain's disbelief mirrored the stunned silence from the crowd, with commentators branding it the "most un-Kohli-like dismissal."

In the wake of India's batting woes—where they lost six wickets for just 53 runs before lunch—former India head coach Anil Kumble weighed in on the issue. In a discussion with JioCinema, Kumble suggested that Kohli could have benefited from participating in domestic matches to prepare for the demanding Test season ahead. He emphasized that real match experience is more advantageous than practice alone.

Kumble remarked, "Perhaps just one or two innings in a match situation could have helped. If he believes that earlier participation would have made a difference, and the team management agrees, then it could be beneficial. However, I don't see this as the sole reason for his difficulties against spin."

Statistically, Kohli has struggled against spinners on Asian pitches, averaging just 28 in 26 innings over the past three years, with 21 of those dismissals coming from spin bowlers—10 of which were from left-arm orthodox spinners.

Kumble noted, "When Kohli has come to the crease, the pitches have often favored spin, which is a critical factor. His issues at the start of innings stem not just from mindset but also from conditions that benefit spinners. This was evident in the dismissals of both Kohli and Shubman Gill to left-arm spin, as strategic decisions were made against them. Even top players can find such situations challenging."

Regarding Kohli's absence from domestic cricket, it's worth noting that while several regular Indian players were included in the Duleep Trophy squad for match practice ahead of the Bangladesh series, Kohli and Rohit Sharma were notably absent. The BCCI opted against risking injuries for senior players.

This decision faced criticism from former cricketers like Sanjay Manjrekar and Sunil Gavaskar, who argued that regular match play could have been beneficial for Kohli and others.