Sunil Gavaskar Backs Virat Kohli to Shine in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Urges Rohit Sharma to Focus on Shot Selection
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy looms, Sunil Gavaskar has expressed confidence that Virat Kohli will be primed to convert his starts into big scores, despite any recent concerns over his form. Gavaskar’s statement is a timely boost for Kohli, a player renowned for his ability to rise to the occasion in high-pressure series, particularly against Australia. “Virat will be hungry for runs, and I believe he will look to convert those starts into big scores. He’s a big-match player, and the brand of cricket he has established is massive,” Gavaskar said. With his immense experience and past successes in Australia, Kohli could be the key player for India, leading their batting charge in the series.
On Rohit Sharma, Gavaskar emphasized the importance of the Indian captain getting his shot selection right to overcome his recent struggles. Rohit, who will miss the first Test due to personal commitments, has been out of form, and his batting has been under scrutiny. However, Gavaskar believes that if Rohit focuses more on playing the right shots, he can regain his rhythm and turn his form around. “Rohit needs to concentrate on his shot selection. If he does, I’m confident he’ll improve his average and become a major threat to the opposition,” Gavaskar added.
Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri, former India head coach, has high hopes for young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, already regarded as a world-class talent. Shastri believes the Australian tour will be a major learning curve for Jaiswal, who, if he adapts to the challenges of the tough Perth pitch, could emerge as a significantly improved player. “I have no doubt that Jaiswal will be a better player by the time he leaves Australia. He’s already world class,” Shastri said at a Fox Cricket event, predicting a bright future for the young batter.
