If I get 20 minutes with Virat Kohli, I might be able to help him: Sunil Gavaskar

India crushed England in the third ODI of the three-match series to win it 2-1 days after clinching the T20I series by the same margin. India overpowered England in the white-ball leg of the tour after losing the one-off Test at Edgbaston.

While everything went India’s way, Virat Kohli’s rough patch continued even in this series as he managed to make just 12 runs in the two T20Is, followed by 33 runs in the two ODIs. Even in the rescheduled Test match, he could score only 11 and 20.

Kohli has often struggled with deliveries in the off-stump line, but Sunil Gavaskar believes his suggestions could help the star batter get out of the lean patch.

“If I had about 20 minutes with him, I would be able to tell him the things he might have to do. It might help him, I am not saying it will help him but it could, particularly with regards to that off-stump line. Having been an opening batter, having been troubled by that line, there are certain things that you try and do. If I get 20 minutes with him, I might be able to tell him,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Gavaskar feels that batters tend to attempt every ball that is thrown to them to score runs and keep the scorecard ticking, which is the case with Kohli, who has been unable to score runs for a long time. In the recently concluded tour, Kohli played some good shots but ended up losing his wicket in similar style in the ODI series.

“It goes back to the fact that his first mistake turns out to be his last. Again, just because he is not amongst the runs, there is this anxiety to play at every delivery because that is what batters feel, they have got to score. You look to play at deliveries that you otherwise won’t. But he has gotten out to good deliveries as well on this particular tour,” he added.

All these greats are allowed a few failures: Sunil Gavaskar

Just like many other cricketers and veterans, Gavaskar also backed Kohli and said that the batting legend would get back to form soon. He believes that Kohli, who had been so consistent with the bat for over so many years, is permitted to make a few mistakes and failures are a part of the game.

“I think we just have to wait and see when he comes back, whether it helps or not helps. As I said, he is allowed a few failures, look at his record for India, 70 international hundreds. I mean, he has got runs in all formats of the game, in all conditions.

“Let’s be patient, let’s not rush things. We, somehow in India, hurry once a player reaches 32, 33, we all the time, look to push him out of the team when they have so much more to contribute. Let’s be patient with Kohli as well. All these greats who have served Indian cricket are allowed a few failures,” Gavaskar concluded.