look news india
After losing the 3-0 home Test series against New Zealand, India started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in a spectacular manner by winning the Perth Test. However, the series ended with a 3–1 victory for Australia. The poor performance of India’s senior batsmen played an important role in the team’s defeat. Meanwhile, former cricketer and Yuvraj Singh’s father Yograj Singh has given a sharp reaction to the technical weakness of the Indian batsmen, Virat Kohli and the role of coaching.
Comment on Virat Kohli’s off-side weakness
Virat Kohli was seen struggling with his form in this series. He scored just 190 runs in 9 innings, which included one century. Kohli was out 8 times on balls outside the off stump by being caught by slip or caught by the wicketkeeper. On this Yograj Singh said:
“Virat was getting trapped in his weakness again and again. There was no coach or teammate to tell him that he was getting out because of his favorite shot—the right-handed push. This shot works on Indian pitches and in England, but can be harmful on bouncy pitches. In such a situation, someone should have explained to him not to play this shot or leave this ball.
Rohit Sharma and challenges of captaincy
Rohit Sharma did not play the Perth Test due to the birth of his second child and did not even appear in the last Test of the series. He scored only 31 runs in three Test matches. Yograj believes that players need guidance and mental support at the right time more than coaching.
He said:
“Even experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli want someone to tell them where they are making mistakes. Every player has to face downs in his career. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the coaching staff and team management to take care of the players mentally and maintain their confidence.”
Yograj’s perspective on coaching vs management
Yograj emphasized the difference between coaching and management, saying:
“When you play for India, the traditional coaching requirements are reduced. Players need more man management. There should be someone who understands the mental state of the player and motivates them. It is the coach’s responsibility to identify technical mistakes and help in correcting them, but it is the management’s job to remove the mental blocks of the players.
Comment on Gautam Gambhir’s coaching
Yograj Singh said about Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir:
“Gambhir has been a brilliant cricketer and has a sharp mind. But proper management is very important to keep the team united and maintain the confidence of the players. Young players like Siraj need guidance and support. They should be the ones to tell them that bad times are a part of everyone’s life and it will end soon.”
Indian team’s performance: an analysis
- Virat Kohli: 190 runs in 9 innings and getting out in the same manner again and again.
- Rohit Sharma: Just 31 runs in three Tests and absent from the Sydney Test.
- Series result: 3-1 in favor of Australia.
- Indian bowling: Players like Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj performed well, but the team lacked batsmen.