Greg Chappell Offers Advice to Kohli and Rohit to Rekindle Their Form

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has shared his insights on how Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can rediscover their best form, drawing from his past experience with Sachin Tendulkar. After a challenging performance by both players in India’s recent Test series against New Zealand, which culminated in a 0-3 whitewash, Chappell believes that Kohli and Rohit need to adapt and strike a balance between aggression and patience, particularly ahead of India’s crucial upcoming Test series against Australia.

Kohli, who has struggled with consistency in recent months, particularly in the New Zealand series where he scored just 93 runs across six innings, has a clear challenge ahead of him. Chappell notes that Kohli’s aggressive mindset, which once made him a force in world cricket, needs to be mixed with patience and focus. Kohli, now in his mid-30s, must find a way to combine his trademark intensity with maturity as he approaches the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a series where he has been highly successful in the past, including a standout performance in the 2014/15 series in Australia.

"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. The aggressive mindset that propelled him to greatness must now coexist with patience and focus," Chappell wrote in his column for Sydney Morning Herald.

As for Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, Chappell observes that his recent strategy of playing aggressively without settling into an innings has been ineffective. Chappell emphasizes that Rohit must find a balance between aggressive shot-making and patient batting to succeed in Australia, particularly under the pressure of leading the team.

“As captain, he must maintain his own form while shouldering the pressure of leadership – a delicate balance he’ll need to master if India is to thrive,” Chappell wrote.

Chappell also drew parallels with Sachin Tendulkar’s career, particularly during the phases when he had to adjust his game with age. Tendulkar, like Kohli and Rohit, faced challenges as he aged, with his reflexes slowing down. Chappell, who worked closely with Tendulkar, helped him understand that the mental demands of batting increase with age, making it harder to sustain the intense focus needed to succeed at the highest level. Chappell shared how Tendulkar’s focus shifted from simply scoring runs to managing the mental strain of batting and adapting to changing conditions and strategies by the opposition.

"I explained to him that the mental demands of batting intensify with age: Batting gets harder because you realize 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," Chappell recalled. He went on to highlight the importance of rekindling the mindset and approach from younger years, a crucial adjustment for any aging cricketer.

Chappell’s advice is clear: Kohli and Rohit need to rekindle the mindset that helped them achieve success in their younger days while recognizing the evolving nature of their careers. Both players must accept the challenge of competing not just against their opponents but also against time, as they aim to remain at the top of their game in an ever-evolving cricketing landscape. The upcoming series against Australia could be a defining moment for them, and the advice shared by Chappell could prove pivotal in helping them find their form once again.