(Credit IPL)
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson praised Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli, acknowledging him as one of the most mentally resilient players he has encountered. Kohli’s remarkable performance in IPL 2024, where he emerged as the tournament’s top run-scorer with 741 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore, underscores his prowess. Next, Kohli is set to showcase his talents for India in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence on June 1.
Those I’ve had individual sessions with, without specifying names, have shown a remarkable trait. Take, for instance, the high-caliber international cricketers I’ve collaborated with, such as those at the Delhi Capitals. What stands out is their capacity to enter each match with confidence, fully aware of what their optimal performance entails, and consistently delivering it.
“Then the way they debrief a performance, especially when it’s not a great performance – how they debrief that and just turn their focus then to what they need to do in the lead up or during the next game to be able to bring a better version or give themselves a better chance of having a good performance. So, there’s two people that stand out for me, as I have played with both of these guys.
“One is Virat Kohli, who is just so mentally tough. He fully understands how to bring the best version of himself, which is getting in the battle, having his back up against a war where it’s you or me, and he’s fully engaged in every moment of every game. It’s that intensity that he brings to, just about every game, is superhuman.
“There’s only really a couple of other people that I’ve played with or played against who had that consistent intensity every moment of every game So that’s something about Virat, that we’ve seen in this IPL, just how engaged he is. That’s why he’s been able to sustain such high performances for such a long period of time,” said Watson in an exclusive interview with IANS, on the sidelines of his new book ‘The Winner’s Mindset’.
Watson, who topped the run charts in the 2012 T20 World Cup, believes that mental readiness will be crucial for players transitioning from IPL conditions in India to those they’ll encounter in the West Indies and USA during the prestigious event.
“It’s about recognizing that, despite it being the Men’s T20 World Cup, it’s no different from any other game; the same skill set applies. As a batsman, you’re still facing a bowler. You need to assess the conditions and have confidence in your judgment regarding them. It’s essential to prepare diligently to bring out the best of your skills.”
Ultimately, these elite cricketers are transitioning from the IPL to adapt to different conditions and pitches they’ll encounter. They’ll need to adjust to factors like temperature variations and acclimate to new team dynamics. Deep comprehension of mental skills and their integration into personal routines can create a robust, resilient mindset, akin to a protective cocoon.
“So then whichever direction and team you go into, or the conditions that you are facing, you do know how to tap into the very best version of you and tap into those skills that you’ve got so deeply ingrained. The masters of their mental skills are the ones who are able to do that quicker and more consistently to be able to step into the best versions of themselves,” he stated.
