Virat Kohli Can Show A Bit More Patience: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra, who was part of that famous SCG Test where Sachin Tendulkar scored 241, feels that although he does not expect Virat Kohli to take up Sachin Tendulkar’s approach, the India captain can show a little more patience to get his groove back, weighing in on Virat Kohli’s dismissals.

Given Virat Kohli’s knack of nicking the ball outside off stump that is leading to his repeated dismissals, many feel that the India captain should try and emulate the approach Sachin Tendulkar took up during his epic knock of 241 not out at the 2004 Sydney Test against Australia.

Aakash Chopra: Virat Kohli Can Show A Bit More Patience

Like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar too found himself getting out trying to play shots outside off. The legendary former batsman Sachin Tendulkar did not hit a single cover drive, en route to playing out one of the most disciplined innings ever seen.

“Kohli can show a bit more patience. Remember the new year’s Test match, Sydney 2004 when Sachin Tendulkar was getting out driving and then he didn’t play a single drive. I’m not saying go down that road because Sachin had more shots as compared to Virat but then, this is the recipe,” Aakash Chopra said on the Byju’s Cricket Live Show on Star Sports on Day 1 of the Johannesburg Test between India and South Africa on Monday.

However, with Virat Kohli not playing the 2nd Test owing to a back spasm, his cricketing start to the new year will now begin on January 11, the third Test at Cape Town.

Ajinkya Rahane And Cheteshwar Pujara Fell Cheaply Yet Again, Mohammed Siraj Injured In The Penultimate Over

Having gone two whole years without scoring a century, Virat Kohli would aim to get 2022 off to a cracking start at Newlands. Aakash Chopra feels the India captain does not have too many weaknesses and reckons a little more application can see the India skipper back to his rollicking form. Aakash Chopra spoke about Virat Kohli’s weaknesses and strengths.

“I don’t think Kohli has too much of an issue playing the bouncers. It’s just about knowing where your off-stump is. Trusting the bounce a little more so you can leave the ball a little more. It doesn’t necessarily have to be on line. You don’t even need to misread the line; you’re not going to get bowled because the ball will be going over the stumps,” added Aakash Chopra.

There was no Virat Kohli to start with, and senior out of form batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane fell cheaply, off successive deliveries. Mohammed Siraj then hobbled off holding his right hamstring in the penultimate over of the day. The start was in stark contrast to the Centurion Test, where the visitors took control early and delivered an impressive win.

India’s positives were stand-in skipper KL Rahul grinding out a fifty, after his match-winning century in the first Test, and Ravichandran Ashwin (46) helping the team, having elected to bat, past 200. South Africa may have won extra credits by dismissing India for 202 but they are still 167 runs in the arrears with a barely-experienced batting line-up pitted against a vastly experienced bowling attack.

Marco Jansen (4/31), Kagiso Rabada (3/64), and Duanne Olivier (3/64) were outstanding as they picked up wickets at regular intervals to not allow the tourists to get into any rhythm. India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul top-scored with a knock of 50, but it was Ravichandran Ashwin’s attacking 46 that helped India to 202, before being bowled out.