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'Rekindle Youth...': Greg Chappell's Suggestion For Rohit And Virat Kohli To Rediscover Form 

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's Test average drops to all time low [Source: @sujeetsuman1991/X.com]Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's Test average drops to all time low [Source: @sujeetsuman1991/X.com]

In a candid column, former Indian team head coach Greg Chappell advised Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to rekindle their youth mindset in order to snap out of the troubling patch. Chappell recalled a conversation with Sachin Tendulkar to assert as one ages, it's the mindset and not the weakening reflexes that leads to shortage of runs.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two pillars of Indian cricket, will embark on a make or break Test series against Australia starting from November 22 at Perth. After registering an average below 16 in the 3-game series against New Zealand, the duo will be tasked to save their spot on the playing XI as BCCI mulls serious changes if things go south in WTC 2025 final qualification.

Chappell decodes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's lean patch

That being said, ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Series, former head coach and cricketer, Greg Chappell wrote a column in the Sydney Morning Herald, explaining reasons behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's struggles.

He recalled a conversation with Sachin Tendulkar where the duo discussed batting getting tougher as one ages. Chappell opined that a player's mindset and focus during early days is unmatched as the hunger for runs is in abundance. 

“Greg, why does batting become harder as you get older? Surely it should get easier?” "I explained to him that the mental demands of batting intensify with age. Batting gets harder because you realise how hard it is to make runs at this level and how difficult it is to maintain the mental focus that is required to be successful," Chappell said.

However, as one grows old, the pressure creeps in with opposition getting familiar with their weakness and strengths. He added that it's not the reflexes but the lack of killer mindset that lead to rough patches. 

"When one is younger, the mind is focused on making runs. As you age, the opposition has put work into finding your weaknesses, and you are more aware of the conditions and the situation of the game. As a young player, you don’t worry about the conditions or the situation of the game, you only see the ball and how to make runs."


"If you want to play like you did as a younger player, you have to rekindle the attitude and the thought processes that you had as a younger player. That is the greatest challenge for the ageing player."

Hence, Chappell made a heartfelt request to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to rekindle their youth mindset and come out all guns blazing in the Australia series.