Kohli, Rohit must rekindle youthful mindset: Chappell

As Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma prepare for one of their career’s defining challenges in Australia in the upcoming Test series, former India head coach Greg Chappell believes the two stalwarts can “rekindle” the energy and focus of their youth to rediscover their lost glory.

Wounded by an unprecedented 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand, India will look to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the marquee five-match Test series in Australia beginning on November 22. According to Chappell, the ageing Rohit and Kohli must summon the same drive and focus that once marked their prime years if India hopes to reclaim its form on foreign soil.

Reflecting on a conversation with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar in 2005, Chappell shared insights into the hurdles players face as they age. Tendulkar had sought Chappell’s perspective and asked why batting became harder as one got older.

“I explained to him that the mental demands of batting intensify with age,” Chappell wrote in a column. “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,” the Australian batting legend added.

He said “it’s not the eyesight or the reflexes that drop off” but “it’s the intense focus that is required that becomes harder to sustain.”

“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,” Chappell said.

“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,” he added.