"Resist playing the outside off-stump delivery": Hayden's groundbreaking advice to Virat Kohli

Everyone has gauged by now that an outside the off-stump delivery serves as Kryptonite to Virat Kohli. Former Australian opener, Matthew Hayden, has brought an advice for the Indian stalwart, a simple one that says that Kohli should leave those deliveries alone. As if this has not been discussed time and again with Kohli consistently faltering against the specific attack, Hayden reminded the solution once more. To add value to his remarks, the former Aussie legend brought Sachin Tendulkar in the explanation.

Drawing inspiration from one of Sachin Tendulkar’s most iconic innings during the 2003-04 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Hayden highlighted the importance of restraint in such situations. Despite Kohli’s unbeaten century in the second innings of the first Test at Perth, the 36-year-old has faced repeated dismissals chasing deliveries outside the off-stump, exposing a recurring vulnerability.

Hayden believes that the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will offer a batter-friendly surface and is confident that Kohli can rediscover his form if he refrains from driving at wide deliveries. He fondly recalled Tendulkar’s masterclass against Australia’s formidable bowling attack, featuring Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, and Jason Gillespie. In that match, Tendulkar neutralized their strategy of targeting the outside edge by meticulously avoiding cover drives, crafting an unbeaten 241 adorned with 33 boundaries, all away from the cover region.

"In Melbourne, he's going to have a good batting track. What he does need to do is find a way to continue staying at the crease. Flashing outside the off-stump is something that he's going to have to resist,” said Hayden.

“And I suggest - he gets in line with the ball a bit more and looks to play down the ground a little bit more... I know he's a magnificent cover driver, but so was Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin put away the cover drive, worked his way into the innings, hit off his legs beautifully, took on the spin, and addressed the areas of concern. He put a big cross through them and said, ‘Not on my watch today.' Virat Kohli has got that personality, and I'm sure we'll see it in Melbourne,” he added.

As the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy stands evenly balanced at 1-1, the stage is set for an electrifying conclusion. India’s top order has faltered in the last two Tests, and the team will be banking on Kohli’s experience to script a turnaround in the Boxing Day Test. Despite the disappointing batting display by the visitors at Adelaide and the Gabba, India has a fair chance to retain the BGT and fight for the WTC Final spot against the Kangaroos.