Gavaskar Urges Kohli to Abandon Cover Drive, Drawing Lessons from Tendulkar

Brisbane, Dec 16 (NationPress) Sunil Gavaskar, the former captain of India, has encouraged Virat Kohli to look back at Sachin Tendulkar’s memorable innings in Sydney in 2004 as a source of motivation to help him navigate his recent issues with deliveries outside the off-stump.

Kohli began the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia with a remarkable century in Perth, but has since struggled, failing to surpass 15 runs in his last four innings. His most recent dismissal for a mere 3 runs in the first innings of the third Test at The Gabba highlighted his susceptibility to the disciplined lines of the Australian pacers.

In a discussion with broadcasters following Kohli’s soft dismissal, Gavaskar stressed the significance of adapting and exhibiting mental discipline, drawing a parallel with Tendulkar’s unforgettable unbeaten 241 in Sydney during the 2003-04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“Certainly, practice differs from match conditions; the mindset varies entirely. In practice, if you play a poor shot, you might escape the consequences. However, in a match, once you’re out, you’re out,” Gavaskar pointed out.

Kohli entered the crease aiming to stabilize India’s innings after a rocky start. Yet, Josh Hazlewood took advantage of Kohli’s eagerness, luring him into a wide delivery that resulted in a thick edge to Alex Carey behind the stumps. This dismissal mirrored Kohli’s recent trend of chasing deliveries outside off-stump, frequently getting caught in the slip cordon.

Gavaskar acknowledged this weakness and urged Kohli to reconsider how Tendulkar tackled a similar problem during his 2004 Sydney innings.

“What I believe Kohli should do is perhaps study what Sachin Tendulkar accomplished back in 2004. In the first three Test matches, he was dismissed after playing for the line outside the off-stump, often getting caught at slips or short gully. Upon reaching Sydney, he resolved not to play anything in the cover area. He focused solely on shots between the bowler's follow-through and to the right of the mid-off fielder, leaving everything else on the other side. That’s the determination required. He rarely played a cover drive; I think he only attempted one after getting to 200-220. That’s the level of mental control one should possess,” Gavaskar elaborated.

During the Sydney Test of the 2003-04 series, Tendulkar faced severe criticism. Struggling with form, he had been dismissed multiple times trying to execute the cover drive, a shot that had always been a strength but had turned into a liability during that series. Recognizing the Australian bowlers’ tactics, Tendulkar made the conscious decision to completely avoid the cover drive.

“He hardly played a cover drive; I think he only played one after reaching 200-220,” Gavaskar reminisced. “That’s the kind of mental discipline one should maintain.”

Instead of chasing deliveries wide of off-stump, Tendulkar concentrated on batting straight down the ground or on the leg side, demonstrating remarkable restraint and technical precision.

Over the course of 436 deliveries, Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 241, anchoring India’s colossal total of 705/7 before the declaration. It was a masterclass in batting built on patience and adaptability, as Tendulkar neutralized the Australian attack and thwarted their plans.

Gavaskar is confident that Kohli, similar to Tendulkar, possesses the capability to adapt and regain his form. “Kohli has proven his talent before. You cannot accumulate 9000 runs in Test cricket and achieve 32 centuries without having strong mental control,” Gavaskar remarked.

He recommended that Kohli analyze both Tendulkar’s Sydney innings and his own past successful performances to reignite his rhythm.

“What I think Kohli can do is maybe have a look at what Sachin Tendulkar did way back in 2004,” Gavaskar suggested. “Kohli should also review videos of himself scoring big runs to remind himself of his technique and confidence.”

India’s struggles in the series persist, with the team dwindling to 48/4 at tea on Day 3 of the third Test at The Gabba. Australia, having scored a formidable 445 runs in their first innings, was bolstered by centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith.