Rajkumar Sharma Reacts to Sunil Gavaskar’s Advice for Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli’s form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has sparked debate. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar suggested he be inspired by Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 in Sydney. Gavaskar advised Kohli to curb his urge to play the cover drive. It has often led to his dismissals in the series.
However, Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, disagrees with Gavaskar. He defends the former Indian captain. Sharma stressed that Kohli is one of India’s most consistent players. He dismissed the criticism as premature.
Gavaskar’s Advice to Kohli
During commentary in the third Test in Brisbane, Sunil Gavaskar compared Kohli to Sachin Tendulkar. Gavaskar referred to Tendulkar’s discipline in his 2004 double-century in Sydney. The Master Blaster avoided the cover drive to counter a weakness outside off-stump. Gavaskar suggested Kohli use a similar strategy to regain his form.
The discussion about Kohli’s form comes before the final two Tests of the series. These are the Boxing Day Test at the MCG (Dec 26-30) and the New Year’s Test in Sydney (Jan 3-7). Kohli’s performances in these matches will be crucial for India as the series hangs in the balance.
Rajkumar Sharma Defends Kohli
Rajkumar Sharma, Kohli’s long-time mentor, was upset by Gavaskar’s comments. He responded in an interview with NDTV. Sharma acknowledged Gavaskar’s status as a cricketing legend. But, he wondered why other players weren’t given the same advice.
“Sunil Gavaskar has been a great player and his suggestions are always welcomed but I hope he suggests others also about their batting. He has been performing well since 2008. It will be unfair to say that he is out of form on the basis of two innings. He has already scored a hundred in this series. How many players have got a hundred in the series?” said Sharma as quoted by NDTV.
Kohli’s Recent Form Under Scrutiny
Kohli’s form has been a mixed bag in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He scored a century in the series opener in Perth. But, he has struggled in subsequent matches, getting out to outside off-stump deliveries.
His poor performances in this series show his struggles in India’s home season. There, Kohli scored 99 runs in four innings against Bangladesh and 93 runs in six against New Zealand. They included three single-digit scores and a duck. This raised questions about his technique and mindset.
Sharma on Kohli’s Ability to Bounce Back
Despite Kohli’s struggles, Sharma is optimistic. He believes the star batter can return to his best. He dismissed statistics. Instead, he focused on Kohli’s long contributions to Indian cricket.
“To be honest, I didn’t know much about the stats but the kind of player he is, he will bounce back. I think he is too good a player to be told anything and criticized because he has been the most consistent player in Indian cricket history,” Sharma added.
Kohli’s Path Ahead
With the series tied at 1-1 and two Tests left, Virat Kohli can silence his critics. He must lead India to a series victory in Australia. Kohli’s choice will be key to India’s fate. If he adjusts his technique, as Gavaskar suggested, it may help. But, if he sticks to his natural game, it may not.
The debate over his form continues. But, one thing is clear: Kohli is one of Indian cricket’s greatest batters. His legacy is unquestionable. Fans and pundits will hope for vintage Kohli in the high-pressure games ahead.
