As Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma prepare for one of their career’s defining challenges in Australia in the upcoming Test series, former India head coach Greg Chappell believes the stalwart duo can “rekindle” the energy and focus of their youth to rediscover their lost glory.
Wounded by an unprecedented 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand, India will look to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the marquee five-match Test series in Australia beginning on November 22.
According to Chappell, the ageing Sharma and Kohli must summon the same drive and focus that once marked their prime years if India hopes to reclaim its form on foreign soil.
Reflecting on a conversation with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar in 2005, Chappell shared insights into the hurdles players face as they age.
Tendulkar had sought Chappell’s perspective and asked “Greg, why does batting become harder as you get older? Surely it should get easier?”
“I explained to him that the mental demands of batting intensify with age,” Chappell wrote in a column for ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.
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: Greg Chappell#cricket #sports #GregChappellhttps://t.co/UUG4b1Sr2I
— The Telegraph (@ttindia) November 8, 2024
“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 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; “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,” Chappell wrote, describing Rohit, Kohli and Australian batting stalwart Steve Smith as the “giants” of current times.
“If you want to play like you did as a younger player, you have to rekindle your attitude and thought processes. That is the greatest challenge for the ageing player,” Chappell had explained to Tendulkar.
Chappell said the upcoming five-match Test series in Australia “will be as much a battle of wits and endurance as it will be of skill, with each player needing to summon the drive and adaptability of their younger selves.”
“This sentiment captures what Sharma, Kohli and (Steve) Smith will confront in this series. They know that opposition teams have scrutinised their techniques, studied their weaknesses and developed strategies specifically to exploit even minor chinks.”
