'Forget your favourite shot for 20 balls': Ex-cricketer to Virat Kohli

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Dec 16, 2024, 15:44 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

India faced a daunting task on Day 3 of the Test match against Australia. Mitchell Starc's fiery spell dismantled the Indian top order, including Virat Kohli, who continued his lean patch with a score of just 3. Former cricketer Deep Dasgupta suggested Kohli focus on a more restrained approach initially to regain his form.

'Forget your favourite shot for 20 balls': Ex-cricketer to Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: When Mitchell Starc unleashed a fiery spell on the morning of Day 3, he quickly dismissed young batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, leaving India in a precarious position. Naturally, all eyes turned to their star batter, Virat Kohli. Known for his ability to thrive under pressure and rescue his team in challenging situations against any bowling attack, Kohli was expected to step up as the saviour.
However, Kohli's innings was short-lived as Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood got the better of him. Kohli, who managed just three runs off 16 balls, edged a delivery from Hazlewood to be caught behind.
Kohli's scores on this tour read 5, 100 not out, 7, 11, and 3, reflecting his struggles with the bat.
ALSO READ: What Kohli can learn from Tendulkar's Sydney masterclass

Amid Kohli's lean patch, former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta offered advice during his appearance on Star Sports.
"This is a mental issue, not a technical one," Dasgupta said.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli and that corridor of certainty
"As a player of your stature, it's important to sometimes play within your boundaries. Everyone knows what you’re capable of—you’ve already proven your greatness over the last 10-15 years. There’s nothing left to prove. But occasionally, you need to focus on staying within your limits. Once you find your rhythm, you can gradually expand those limits. For the first 20 balls, forget about your favourite shot. Forget the cover drive that your fans love. Just put it aside for those 20 balls," he added.

ALSO READ: 'Virat Kohli should learn from MS Dhoni and retire'
Earlier in the day, Australia resumed their innings at 405 for seven, adding 40 runs before losing their remaining three wickets. Jasprit Bumrah shone with the ball, claiming figures of 6-76.
In reply, India found themselves in deep trouble at 48 for four, trailing Australia's first-innings total by 397 runs. Opener KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 30, with skipper Rohit Sharma yet to open his account.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article