Kohli needs to learn about field placements, bowling changes: Gavaskar

The ‘Little Master’, however, played down Kohli’s much-publicised reaction to a reporter’s query about whether he agreed with coach Ravi Shastri on this being the best travelling team in last 15 years.

Published : Sep 13, 2018 18:45 IST , New Delhi

Sunil Gavaskar reckons that Virat Kohli (above) still has a “lot to learn” tactically.
Sunil Gavaskar reckons that Virat Kohli (above) still has a “lot to learn” tactically.
lightbox-info

Sunil Gavaskar reckons that Virat Kohli (above) still has a “lot to learn” tactically.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar reckons that Virat Kohli still has a “lot to learn” tactically after its humiliating 1-4 defeat against England in the just-concluded five-Test series.

“He (Virat) still has a lot to learn. Like we saw in South Africa, earlier, and now, in England too, there were instances when right field placements or timely bowling changes made by him could have made a big difference. That was missing again. It has just been two years (he took over four years back) since he took over as a captain, so at times, the lack of experience shows,” Gavaskar told India Today news channel.

The ‘Little Master’, however, played down Kohli’s much-publicised reaction to a reporter’s query about whether he agreed with coach Ravi Shastri on this being the best travelling team in last 15 years.

READ: India tour of England: What could have been

While the question asked by the scribe was “justified”, Gavaskar felt maybe the timing was wrong. “That is probably the wrong time to ask him that question. He (Virat) must have been hurting from the defeat. Maybe the reporter was perfectly justified in asking that, but I don’t think any skipper would have responded with a “you are right but we are wrong” statement,” he said.

The legendary opener said that one shouldn’t read too much into the incident. “His team was 1-3 down and maybe he just wanted to end on a high. I don’t think that we should read too much into Virat’s reaction either. It was clear that the skipper was disappointed with what had happened and maybe he responded that way,” the 69-year-old said.

He also thought that chief coach Shastri’s intention was not to insult the teams of yesteryears, but only to talk up his own boys.

“To be honest, Ravi (Shastri) would have said that (best touring team in last 15 years) to lift the morale of the team. I don’t think so that he was trying to rubbish the earlier teams. That wasn’t the coach’s intention, I believe,” Gavaskar signed off.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment