Team India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour says skipper Virat Kohli should be more cautious with his shot selection.
Team India’s red ball skipper has been seen getting caught behind in a similar fashion while attempting to play the cover drive shot. In the past few years, Kohli has been chasing the deliveries wide outside the off stump which has costed him his crucial wicket in a couple of occasions.
Team India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour feels that the Indian skipper shouldn’t give up on expansive drives but he needs to be judicious while choosing the right delivery for the perfect execution of his shots.
During the 2nd innings of the 1st test between India and South Africa at Centurion, Virat Kohli was well set in the pitch having played a total of 94 deliveries. But he chased a ball which was wide outside the off stump and lost his wicket off Lungi Ngidi’s bowling.
Vikram Rathour feels that Kohli should keep playing the off drive or cover drive shots as it has been his strength for years now.
“These are shots which brings him (Kohli) lots of runs and it’s his scoring shot. He needs to play that shot and I think it is always your strength that turns out to be your weakness as well,” Rathour said at the end of the fourth day’s play of the first Test against South Africa.
In 2004, Sachin Tendulkar did not play a single cover drive shot in the Sydney Test against Australia. But the ‘Little Master’ managed to score 241 runs.
But coach Vikram Rathour feels that the Delhi born cricketer does not need to apply the same strategy to his game.
“If you don’t play a certain shot, you will never get out playing that shot. You will never score runs as well. Now, when to play that shot, that’s the part there are constant discussions.
“Was it right all and right stage to play that shot? If we can tighten up our game-plans a little more, that will be better. So that’s the shot he (Kohli) plays well and he needs to carry on playing that shot but he needs to pick better balls,” Rathour added.