Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are going through a bad phase these days. Meanwhile, former India coach Greg Chappell has given advice to both legends. He has said that if Kohli and Rohit have to regain their lost reputation, they will have to rekindle the enthusiasm and passion of their youth.
After suffering a crushing defeat against New Zealand, India now has to tour Australia where the five-match series will begin from November 22 in Perth. Kohli and Rohit are struggling to score runs ahead of this important series.
Chappell had said this to Sachin 19 years ago:
Chappell, in his column in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, mentioned the conversation he had with Sachin Tendulkar in 2005 and spoke of the challenges faced by players of increasing age. To get Chappell’s opinion, Sachin had asked him, ‘Greg, why does batting become difficult with age, when it should become easier?
Chappell, 76, wrote: “I told him that with age the mental needs to hit as before increase.” It becomes difficult to bat because you realize how difficult it is to score runs at this level. Also, how difficult it is to maintain the concentration necessary to be successful.
Chappell said: “As you get older, your eyesight or reflexes don’t diminish, but it’s concentration that becomes difficult to maintain.” When you are young, the concentration of your mind is on scoring runs. With age, the opposing team also begins to know your weaknesses and you become more aware of situations.
This former Australian legend termed Kohli, Rohit and Australia’s Steve Smith as legends of this game and said, “When you are young, you don’t worry about the circumstances and the match situation.” Your focus is solely on scoring runs.
Chappell explained to Tendulkar: “If you want to play like you did when you were young, you have to rekindle the focus and thought processes that you had when you were young. This is the biggest challenge for an older player.
The slightest weakness will cost a lot in Australia
Chappell said that in the series between India and Australia, apart from the players’ skills, their mental strength and stamina will also be tested. He said: ‘Every player has to awaken the enthusiasm and passion of his youth. This shows what kind of challenge Rohit, Kohli and Smith have to face in this series. They know that the opposing team has carefully evaluated their technique and weaknesses and has prepared a strategy to take advantage of your smallest weakness.
Chappell said: ‘Kohli is known for his enthusiasm, passion and for setting high standards. His recent poor performance has worried everyone. Now they will have to work to maintain patience and concentration. As far as Rohit is concerned, he will have to strike a balance between his batting and the pressure of captaincy. If India has to perform well, it will have to adopt balanced aggression.
Chappell said: “The real battle for Rohit, Kohli and Smith is not with the opposing team, but with time.” Greg Chappell played 87 Test matches (1970-1984) and recorded a batting average of 53.86. Greg Chappell scored 24 centuries. When Chappell was the coach of the Indian team, there were open differences with his captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly was later removed from the captaincy.
The dispute between former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Greg Chappell is considered one of the biggest controversies in Indian cricket. Ganguly played an important role in making Chappell a coach and later both of them became great enemies.
