IPL 2021: He Has Set Such High Standards For Himself That People Expect Big Innings Every Time - Sunil Gavaskar Advices Virat Kohli To Play To His Strengths

Former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar suggests Virat Kohli bat in his natural aggression mode and score boundaries instead of playing safe cricket and collecting singles.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper has been inconsistent in the IPL 2021. Out of 6 innings this season, Virat Kohli has one fifty – 72* against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede – while the rest of his innings are all of the strike rates below 120.

In the last game against the Delhi Capitals, the right-hander inside-edged an Avesh Khan delivery outside off back to his stumps while looking to guide it to third-man for a single. To which Sunil Gavaskar believes Kohli should have batted like a “puncher” and driven or punched it instead of a “tickler” which he did and got out.

“He has set such high standards for himself that every time he comes out to bat, people expect big innings from him. I would just like to say, maybe he shouldn’t be the tickler… he should look to be the puncher,” Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.

“What he was trying to do (against Avesh Khan) – he was just trying to tickle the ball for a single. He really shouldn’t be looking at the singles. He should be looking to be able to hit the ball in such a way, the way he drives and punches around the extra cover area. So, that’s exactly he has to do. Those are his strengths. He must keep playing to his strength and he will be back to getting runs,” he added.

When you’re the first to get to a particular landmark, you’re setting the bar for others: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar continued to lavish praise on the RCB captain, who became the first batsman to accumulate 6000 runs in the IPL. Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan are still plenty of distance behind Kohli.

“It stands right at the top, for the simple reason that when you’re the first to get to a particular landmark, you’re setting the bar for others. And now the others will want to get to 6000, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina, who have gone past 5000. They will be looking to get to 6000 because that is what the No. 1 player does,” the legendary batsman further stated.

Speaking of RCB, they have won 5 of their 6 games, and sit at the second position on the points table – tied on points with CSK but behind on net run rate. They will next face the Punjab Kings on Friday in Ahmedabad.

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