As India gears up for the crucial third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia at The Gabba, all eyes are on the batting icon Virat Kohli, who has been going through one of the toughest phases of his illustrious career.
Despite showing glimpses of brilliance with a century in the first Test at Perth, Kohli’s form faltered in the second Test at Adelaide, where Australia’s pacers ruthlessly exposed his vulnerability outside the off-stump.
Kapil Dev refuses to give any advice to struggling Virat Kohli
Battling against the pink ball, he could manage only just 7 and 11 in the Adelaide Test. This year has been forgettable for Virat Kohli, as he has managed a mere 611 runs in 21 international matches at a disappointing average of 22.62.
He hit a solitary century and only two half-centuries so far in 2024. His numbers tell an even grimmer story in Test cricket. He has played 12 Test innings in 2024 to score 221 runs at a poor average of 20.09.
Meanwhile, India’s iconic 1983 World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, stunned the cricket world by refusing to offer any advice to Virat Kohli, as he believes that it’s up to the struggling batter to find his way out of this slump. Hailing him as one of the top batters to ever represent India, he admitted that the road to revival lies solely in Kohli’s hands.
It is only up to him how fast he can bounce back: Virat Kohli
Kapil Dev was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times: “Virat Kohli is one of the best cricketers we have seen in our country. If you put the top four batsmen, he will be there. If he is going through a rough time, it is only up to him how fast he can bounce back.”
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah stepped up as captain in Rohit Sharma’s absence and led India to a commanding 295-run victory over Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Notably, Rohit was on paternity leave during the Perth Test.
The stunning leadership sparked discussions about whether Jasprit Bumrah is ready to take on a long-term leadership role, but Kapil Dev believes that it is too early to make such calls. The former Indian captain has insisted that a single performance, whether good or bad, isn’t enough to determine a player’s readiness for such a big responsibility.
Kapil Dev stresses patience in judging Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy potential
The legendary all-rounder also emphasized the importance of consistency and resilience. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain further noted that true leadership is revealed not during moments of triumph but through the ability to navigate challenges and emerge stronger in tough times.
He signed off by saying, “I think it is too early to talk about that. With one performance, you can’t say he is the best, and with one bad performance, you can’t say he doesn’t deserve it. Let a player play a lot of cricket and take on a lot of captaincy. Ups and downs will come, and then you judge a person by how he reacts in difficult times, not in good times. In good times, we don’t have to judge. When he is down and out…”