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Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar has offered valuable advice to Virat Kohli ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. Kohli has faced a challenging tournament as a batter, managing only 75 runs in 7 innings at an average of 10.71.
Throughout the tournament, Kohli has attempted to take an aggressive approach, often attacking the opposition’s bowlers from the outset. However, this strategy has yet to yield favorable results. In contrast, his opening partner Rohit Sharma has effectively targeted the opening bowlers and imposed pressure.
With the crucial final approaching, Kohli will be under pressure to deliver on the grand stage against a formidable bowling lineup featuring Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Sunil Gavaskar’s sage counsel to Virat Kohli ahead of the final was to maintain his body balance while executing shots, rather than forcefully trying to hit the ball hard, which had previously caused him to lose his equilibrium.
“It’s a final and it will be played on a better batting surface. Like I keep saying, what Kohli has to do is just play the shots that he plays with the same body balance. When he is looking to power the ball away, then he is losing his body balance and he misses the ball,” Gavaskar stated.
“So, all that needs to do is, that six he hit (off Reece Topley). It was brilliant balance and he just flicked the ball with the bottom hand. That’s all he has to do,” the former Indian captain said while mentioning the six that Kohli hit off Reece Topley before getting dismissed in the semi-final against England.
‘Chill a bit and play’ – Sunil Gavaskar to Virat Kohli
Gavaskar also suggested to Kohli that he should stay relaxed and minimize unnecessary movements in the crease while batting. In recent matches, Kohli’s attempts to play aggressive shots forcefully have led to his frequent dismissals.
“When he starts to move around, the head shakes as well. And therefore, it is not helping him. This is something you see in slow-mo as well. All that he needs to do is chill a bit and play that big hand and will give India the big score,” Gavaskar added.
Virat Kohli’s role will be crucial for India in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. India will rely on their star batsman to deliver a significant performance in a match where his contributions are eagerly awaited. Kohli thrives under pressure and this final presents an ideal opportunity for him to rediscover his form.
Moreover, India and South Africa are the only unbeaten teams in the tournament thus far. Both teams have displayed exceptional form, topping their groups in both the initial stage and the Super 8 phase.
