AB de Villiers advised Virat Kohli to reset his mindset, focus on his game, and spend time in the nets to overcome his test batting struggles.
Virat Kohli’s struggles were a major talking point during India’s 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat, as the star batter failed to make an impact. Kohli, dismissed by edging behind in all eight innings, faced criticism for his inability to deliver on Australian soil.
Former teammate AB de Villiers offered insight during a live session on X, reflecting on how every batter faces unique challenges. He highlighted the need for mental clarity, urging Kohli to reset his approach and block out distractions.
“Every single batter in the world has got some sort of a weakness. For me it was the straight ball hitting my pads. Even towards the back end of my career and in the form of my life, all the experience that I needed to go out and score runs,” De Villiers said.
“It takes a lot of character, a lot of hunger, lot of hours in the nets. I think the thing is to reset your mind, everytime,” he added.
De Villiers Suggests Mental Reset for Virat Kohli
Notably, the Indian batter often engaged with players and the crowd, with some moments, like references to sandpapergate, grabbing attention. Kohli scored only 190 runs across eight innings in the series, including a lone century in Perth. His struggles were evident, especially as he seemed distracted by external fights rather than staying locked in.
De Villiers believes Virat Kohli’s determination and skills remain unmatched but advised focusing on each ball and avoiding unnecessary distractions.
“I think with Virat, he gets involved with the battle on the field. That’s one of his biggest strengths and it can also be a weakness. During this series, we saw him have individual battles with some of the players, the crowd got under his skin,” the former Proteas cricketer said.
“Virat loves the fight, but when you’re not in the form of your life, it’s best to get rid of those things. As a batter, it is to reset every single and realise every ball is an event and just forget about the bowler. I think sometimes Virat forgets about that because of his fighting spirit and the nature of the man wanting to be involved and show the whole of India he is there to fight for them. The skill, experience and greatness of the guy are not an issue. It’s about the refocus after every single ball. Maybe sometimes he gets too involved,” de Villiers concluded.
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Last Updated on January 5, 2025
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