Sunil Gavaskar feels Virat Kohli’s ability to rapidly appraise the situation paid him handsomely in the just-ended Test series between India and South Africa.
After being crushed by the Proteas by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test in Centurion, Rohit Sharma and company roared back to win by seven wickets in the second Test in Cape Town on Thursday, January 4.
Kohli, with 172 runs, was the series’ leading run-scorer for the visitors.
Gavaskar was questioned about Kohli’s performance in the series during a talk on Star Sports, and he responded:
The Test matches lasted four and a half days, therefore this was a two-match series that lasted less than a Test match.
However, Virat Kohli appeared to be the most at ease hitter because of his unique ability to evaluate pitches.
The former India opener went on to say that the current batting legend appeared to be batting on a different pitch. He elaborated:
He works out how to play and how not to play when to play shots and when not to play, and as a result, when he bats, especially here, it appears to be a different pitch.
Gavaskar emphasized that Kohli’s performances reflected his quality. He went on to say:
At the opposite end, the hitters were struggling. They couldn’t figure out whether to go ahead or back or how to play when the ball was bouncing.
It didn’t seem like that when Virat Kohli was on the pitch. He made his first error. When a player is of a different class, it is obvious.
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Sunil Gavaskar on Virat Kohli’s improved technique: “When he was in slight trouble two years ago, I felt he was doing too much initial movement”
Sunil Gavaskar was then questioned about Virat Kohli fast getting into the appropriate positions, to which he replied:
First and foremost, his head is completely still. Second, when he was in minor difficulties two years ago, I thought he was moving too quickly.
He is now making only a tiny movement, revealing a small portion of the off-stump.
According to the cricketer-turned-commentator, India’s batting backbone is no longer chasing deliveries outside the off-stump. He stated:
Previously, he was going outside the off-stump, which resulted in his playing distance deliveries and being out.
Now that his right eye is over the off-stump, he can decide whether or not to play the ball. That’s why he’s so assured outside of the off-stump.
Gavaskar pointed out that, despite the seamer-friendly surfaces, Kohli only played and missed once in the two Tests.
He also stated that the 113-Test veteran worked hard to tighten his technique and is now playing close to his body and beneath his eyes.
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