Former coach Abhishek Nayar believes Virat Kohli will quickly recover from his eight-ball duck in Perth and regain his aggressive, confident batting style.
Former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar expects Virat Kohli to bounce back quickly after his eight-ball duck in Perth. Kohli, returning after a four-month break, struggled against Australia, falling to Mitchell Starc and a sharp point catch by Cooper Connolly.
Nayar believes Kohli’s mental strength and competitive instinct will help him regain form without major changes to his technique.
READ ALSO | ‘Don’t Write Off Ravindra Jadeja’: Ravi Shastri Confident of All-Rounder’s 2027 World Cup Return
“Whatever time I have spent with him, he knows how to play in one way only, with passion and aggression. He will back himself. There will be a lot of discussions about him playing deliveries outside the off-stump. He will go back and visualise. He will meditate and come into his zone,” Nayar said on Star Sports.
“He will try to get back the thought process of the old vintage Virat Kohli. He will try to get that mindset. He will try to play with freedom. The result is not in your hands. He will pay attention to the process. Whatever he has been known for, he will try to bring that Virat to the ground,” he added.
Virat Kohli’s Comeback Hinges on Strong Start from Gill and Rohit
Nayar then suggested that a strong start from openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma would help Kohli settle in.
“I would want him to win, but I always believe that you don’t prepare for failure but for success. Whomever you ask, they will say that when Virat comes, the attempt will be to bowl back of the length outside off-stump, with short balls in between. Virat and the opposition know that,” Nayar said.
“It’s about execution and handling pressure. It’s about the start you get. If Virat comes to bat after Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have scored 70 runs in the first 10 overs, the case is different. If he comes at the start, the case is different,” he concluded.
India will be hoping for a turnaround in the second ODI in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23.
This article follows WicketWatcher’s editorial standards. Learn more in our Editorial Policy or report an issue via our Corrections Policy.