Border Gavaskar Trophy: Is it the restart of Virat Kohli vs Sunil Gavaskar battle?

Virat Kohli and most of the Indian batting line-up's form has been a central topic of discussion during the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian batting maestro has struggled to produce his usual commanding performances, leading to widespread analysis and suggestions from former cricketers and experts. Among them, legendary former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar weighed in with a piece of advice for Kohli. Referring to Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic knock of 241 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2004, Gavaskar recommended that Kohli should emulate Tendulkar’s discipline during that innings by refraining from playing the cover drive, a shot that has often led to his dismissals in recent outings.

Border Gavaskar Trophy: Rajkumar Sharma comes in support of Virat Kohli

Tendulkar’s decision to eliminate the cover drive from his repertoire during that innings was hailed as a masterstroke in adapting to the opposition’s strategy. Gavaskar suggested that Kohli could similarly curb his natural instincts temporarily to counter Australia’s bowling plans and regain his form. However, Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, expressed a contrasting opinion. Sharma disapproved of Gavaskar’s advice, emphasizing that Kohli’s success has been built on his natural game and expansive stroke play, including the cover drive.

According to Sharma, altering his approach drastically might hinder rather than help Kohli’s confidence and rhythm at the crease. The debate highlights the challenges faced by even the best players during lean phases and the variety of approaches to overcoming them. As Kohli seeks to rediscover his form, it remains to be seen whether he adapts or stays true to his natural style in the upcoming matches.

Sunil Gavaskar’s suggestion regarding Virat Kohli’s batting approach came during his commentary stint in the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane. Gavaskar emphasized the need for Kohli to temporarily restrain his instinct to play the cover drive, drawing parallels to Sachin Tendulkar’s disciplined knock of 241 in Sydney in 2004. As the series stands delicately poised, with two Tests remaining, the focus has shifted to Kohli’s form. The upcoming Boxing Day Test in Melbourne (December 26 to 30) and the New Year’s Test in Sydney (January 3 to 7) present crucial opportunities for Kohli to turn things around. His performances are vital for India as they aim to gain an upper hand and retain the prestigious Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Kohli’s struggles in the series have sparked intense debate among fans and experts, making his form the most talked-about issue in the cricketing fraternity. With Gavaskar offering strategic advice and others like Rajkumar Sharma defending Kohli’s natural game, the question remains whether Kohli will adapt his approach or stay true to his instincts.

“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 Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma.

Virat Kohli’s form has been a topic of concern not only in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also during India’s recent home season against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Kohli struggled to make a significant impact in those series, raising questions about his consistency in red-ball cricket. Against Bangladesh, he could muster only 99 runs in four innings, failing to convert his starts into big scores. The series against New Zealand was even more challenging for the batting maestro. Kohli managed just 93 runs across six innings, including three single-digit scores and a disappointing duck, further fueling discussions about his lean patch.

Despite these numbers, Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, remained steadfast in his belief that Kohli would rediscover his form. Ignoring the statistics, Sharma emphasized that slumps are a natural part of any cricketer’s journey and that Kohli’s experience and determination would see him through this phase. He backed Kohli to regain his confidence and rhythm with time, pointing to the resilience and adaptability that have defined the star batter’s illustrious career. As India continues its Border-Gavaskar campaign, Sharma’s faith in Kohli is echoed by fans and teammates who recognize the value of his presence in the lineup. With crucial matches ahead, the focus will be on Kohli to put his struggles behind him and deliver performances befitting his reputation as one of the finest batters in modern 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.