Virat Kohli’s aggression must coexist with patience, focus in Australia: Greg Chappell

Legendary Australian cricketer Greg Chappell said the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a defining series for the legacies of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith. Chappell highlighted why batting becomes more difficult for ageing players, contrary to popular perception, adding that the ability to rekindle the youthful hunger will be key to the three big stars.

Greg Chappell highlighted Virat Kohli’s struggles in Test cricket in the recent past and said that the lean patch would have definitely annoyed the former captain. The former India coach said Kohli needs to combine his unmatched intensity with patience and focus as he looks to hit a purple patch in the five-Test series, starting November 22 in Australia.

Virat Kohli slipped out of the top 20 in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Rankings for the first time since 2014 after his flop show in the home series against New Zealand which India shockingly lost 0-3. Kohli managed just 93 runs and looked susceptible against New Zealand spinners, who ran riot on spin-friendly pitches in Mumbai in Pune.

“For Kohli, the task is one of rejuvenation. Known for his unmatched intensity, passion and high standards, Kohli’s recent travails will have annoyed him,” Chappell wrote in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald.

“The aggressive mindset that propelled him to greatness must now coexist with patience and focus. He enters this series hungry to reiterate his authority as India’s most formidable batsman of his generation,” he added.

Kohli has averaged 22.72 over six Tests in 2024, but he will take confidence from his sensational record Down Under – 1352 runs in 13 matches at an average of 54.08.

CHAPPELL RECALLS CONVESATION WITH SACHIN TENDULKAR

Chappell recalled one of his conversations with Sachin Tendulkar, explaining why focus is the toughest thing for ageing batters.

“I explained to him that the mental demands of batting intensify with age. Batting gets harder because you realise how hard it is to make runs at this level and how difficult it is to maintain the mental focus that is required to be successful,” the Australian batting legend wrote.

He said “It’s not the eyesight or the reflexes that drop off” when a player starts ageing but “it’s the intense focus that is required that becomes harder to sustain.”

“When one is younger, the mind is focused on making runs. As you age, the opposition has put work into finding your weaknesses, and you are more aware of the conditions and the situation of the game. As a young player, you don’t worry about the conditions or the situation of the game, you only see the ball and how to make runs.

“If you want to play like you did as a younger player, you have to rekindle the attitude and the thought processes that you had as a younger player. That is the greatest challenge for the ageing player,” said.

India will be banking on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to step up and deliver, but the two stalwarts will be under pressure after having failed in the home series against New Zealand.

India will head into the first Test in Perth without a practice game in the lead-up. Rohit Sharma and his men will have centre-wicket training after having cancelled their tour game against Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A.