Kapil Dev Explains What Virat Kohli Needs To Do To Become An Even More Dangerous Batsman

Kapil Dev, former Indian all-rounder, and World Cup-winning captain has an advice for the charismatic batsman and the current skipper, Virat Kohli, which, according to him, if the Delhi cricketer adheres to, can make him an even more dangerous batsman than he currently is.

Virat Kohli recently turned 32 and according to Dev, he and Steve Smith are at that stage in their respective careers where they could become more susceptible to leg-before wicket while flicking the ball due to receding eye-sight.

“If you look at Kohli and Smith, they’re in the same boat, because they’ve reached an age Smith where the eyesight starts dropping. They both like to play across the legs and both can be candidates for an LBW. From 28 to 34, you are the best but you have to adjust your eyesight,” Kapil Dev said during an interaction with veteran sports journalist, Ayaz Menon at Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

Kapil Dev went on to give the example of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag to drive home his point. Both Dravid and Sehwag struggled at the backend of their career due to receding eye-sight. Dev said that if Kohli can curb his on-side play and focus on playing in the ‘V’, then he can become a more dangerous batsman.

“What happened to Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid? What happened to so many great cricketers? Once the eyes get weak, if they don’t correct themselves technically, they will get out a lot more frequently. Where [Kane] Williamson and [Joe] Root look compact is that they don’t play so much across,” Kapil added.

“If Kohli can handle himself for six months by playing the ball straight ‘I don’t have to flick the bafavoritehe off-side,’ which is his favourite shot too. Then he will look more dangerous than any other player. His eyesight is not always going to be of an 18-year-old. So he will have to adjust himself,” Kapil Dev signed off.

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