Legendary Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist The Indian batting icon has offered some valuable advice to Virat Kohli after his failure in the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Adelaide Oval.
Kohli endured a disappointing outing in the Day-Night Test against Australia in Adelaide, where he was dismissed for just 7 and 11 after scoring an unbeaten century in the first Test in Perth. After India suffered a crushing 10-wicket loss to Australia in the second Test, Adam Gilchrist said Virat Kohli could benefit from a more patient approach.
Adam Gilchrist urges Virat Kohli to be patient after disappointing Adelaide Test
The former Australian goalkeeper recalled what it was like Sachin Tendulkar He famously displayed his patient approach during his landmark knock in Sydney in 2004 and he believes the same approach will help the former India captain in the ongoing five-match Test run. series between India and Australia.
Virat Kohli has so far struggled with outside deliveries behind the stumps in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and Adam Gilchrist feels it is time for the right-hander to improve his strategy.
He mentioned how Sachin Tendulkar, when faced with a similar challenge, chased off-stump deliveries and focused on playing a patient and disciplined game; Kohli needs to follow suit in the remaining Test matches.
It’s more about the battle between your ears: Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist was quoted by Cricbuzz as saying, “The biggest battle is between your ears rather than what comes at you from the bowler or the skill of the opponent. So I don’t think Virat makes any sense but maybe he should try to learn what Sachin Tendulkar did at SCG. And say, ‘he’s right, right, I’m not going to chase anything off the stump. You come to me.” You just play the game of patience.”
The cricket expert emphasized that the game’s biggest battle is often mental, so Kohli should take inspiration from Tendulkar’s calmness and fortitude in tough times.
He believes that Kohli already has a lot of experience and mental toughness, so he needs to adopt a patience game and take his game to new heights in the ongoing Test series in Australia.
Adam Gilchrist urges Virat Kohli to improve his strategy like Sachin Tendulkar
Gilchrist added: “He’s got enough experience to know he’s mentally tough. He has been carrying the weight of expectations since the U-19 level, entering the IPL and becoming an icon. He has to be able to tell himself that I will do everything in my power to do what is best for the team, and if it is a long-suffering game, so be it. If you play long enough, you probably have to develop in different ways and that could be an opportunity for Virat.”
It may be noted that Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten innings of 241 against Australia at the SCG in 2004 is marked by his discipline and strategy. Tendulkar, struggling with deliveries outside off stump, avoided playing his trademark cover drive, a bold decision that neutralized Australia’s attack.
