Sunil Gavaskar gives advice to Virat Kohli, wants batter to show Sachin Tendulkar-type discipline outside off-stump

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar wants Virat Kohli to take a leaf out of Sachin Tendulkar’s book and show discipline outside the off-stump. Gavaskar recalled Sachin’s marathon knock of 241 runs against Australia on the 2003-4 tour in Sydney.

Tendulkar was getting dismissed while trying to play the cover drive in the first three Test matches. However, in the fourth Test at Sydney, Sachin decided to shun that shot and showed great discipline against the Australian bowlers.

Meanwhile, Kohli returned with scores of 7 and 11 in the second pink-ball Test against the Aussies, which India lost by 10 wickets at the Adelaide Oval. The talisman has been troubled by the fourth-fifth stump line in the last couple of years and he has been found wanting while meddling with the outside off-stump deliveries.

Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports, “For example – What Sachin Tendulkar did in Sydney? He was getting outside the off-stump in his previous three Test matches. He was getting out in the covers and slips. He didn’t play a single cover drive. He only played towards mid-off and mid-on and went on to score 241.

“Just keep control on yourself, that ‘I am not going to play there [off stump line]’. Jaise Sachin ne double century banayi waise Kohli bhi bana sakte hain (So, like Sachin scored his double century, similarly Kohli can do it as well).”

“The approach should be that if you aren’t set at the start, don’t go outside and have lunch. In Adelaide, he played a shot that went over the top after he had lunch.

“Australia fielders must have seen that, when he came back to play in the second innings, they placed a fielder there. He needs to control that. If he can play in the front, he has a good bottom hand, he can hit towards mid-wicket, mid-on and straight if he can concentrate there.”

Kohli has been under the pump for his mundane form as he has scored only three Test centuries in the last five years.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.