AB de Villiers Offers Advice to Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli’s struggles during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy were a key highlight of Australia’s 3-1 victory. The Indian batter failed to replicate his past heroics on Australian soil, getting out in the same fashion in all eight of his dismissals throughout the series. Kohli’s form became a concern as he struggled to find his rhythm.
AB de Villiers Weighs In
Looking for guidance to regain his mojo in red-ball cricket, Kohli received advice from former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate and close friend AB de Villiers. Speaking during a live session on X, de Villiers shared his thoughts on the challenges all batters face.
“Every single batter in the world has got some sort of a weakness,” said de Villiers. Reflecting on his own career, he mentioned his weakness against straight balls. “Even towards the back end of my career, I needed to overcome those challenges to score runs.”
Resetting the Mind
To overcome such struggles and return to form, de Villiers emphasized the importance of mindset and hard work. “It takes a lot of character, a lot of hunger, a lot of hours in the nets,” he explained. His advice for Kohli was simple: “Reset your mind every time.”
Avoiding Distractions on the Field
De Villiers also highlighted the mental aspect of Kohli’s game. While Kohli’s fiery spirit is often an asset, de Villiers suggested it can become a weakness when things aren’t going well. Kohli’s interactions with the Australian crowd and ongoing battles with players seemed to distract him during the series. De Villiers pointed out, “I think with Virat, he gets involved with the battle on the field. That’s one of his biggest strengths, but it can also be a weakness.”
Despite a century in Perth, Kohli struggled to make significant runs, finishing the series with only 190 runs in 8 innings. “Virat loves the fight, but when you’re not in the form of your life, it’s best to focus on getting rid of distractions,” said de Villiers.
Focus on Every Ball
De Villiers’ key recommendation for Kohli was to focus on each ball as an isolated event. “As a batter, it is to reset every single ball,” he stated. “Sometimes Virat forgets that because of his fighting spirit, wanting to show India he’s there to fight for them.”
De Villiers believes Kohli’s skill, experience, and greatness aren’t in question. The main challenge is maintaining mental focus after each ball, something he feels Kohli may need to work on.
Looking Ahead
As Kohli prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy, he’ll hope to find his form again after a tough tour of Australia. With de Villiers’ advice in mind, Kohli will aim to return to his best in the upcoming international fixtures.
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