Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels veteran batters Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be looking to get back into the groove after some inconsistent performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Kohli has come under fire for his inability to convert his starts into a big knock more often. The recent New Zealand test series saw him scoring only 93 runs in six innings, as he failed to be potent against the opposition spinners.
In the ongoing BGT, Virat Kohli started out with a 5-run knock, but slammed an unbeaten 100 in Perth to set up a dominating win for the visitors. However, the 36-year-old was inefficient in the Adelaide test, with scores of 7 & 11, while India suffered a 10-wicket loss. In his recent appearance in Gabba, Kohli was dismissed for 3, while edging the ball to keeper Alex Carey off Josh Hazlewood.
Meanwhile, Smith was under incessant pressure in the Perth test, which saw him return with knocks of 0 & 17. Then, the right-hander’s struggles continued in the pink-ball test in Adelaide, where he scored only 2. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old hit his first century in 18 months, when he slammed 101 in the first innings in Gabba. However, his latest knock saw him getting dismissed for 4.
In this regard, Shastri opined that looking at the form of Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Harry Brook in test cricket, Kohli and Smith will be hungry to come good in the remaining games of BGT.
“I think they (Kohli and Smith) will have slipped down the ranks on current form because you know you’ve got the likes of Root taking off, there’s Williamson doing well, Harry Brook has come onto the scene, you know there are a lot of other young players pushing but these are class players. In a situation like this, you know they’ll be dangerous because they’ll be hungry,” Shastri said in an interaction with ICC.
Ravi Shastri suggests Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to be patient
During the same conversation, Ravi Shastri recommended ace batters Virat Kohli and Steve Smith be patient during these testing times. Here’s what he said about Smith:
“What’s needed you saw from Smith. It might have been a struggle early on but he was prepared to play the waiting game and be disciplined.”
Further, Shastri noted that Kohli needs to spend a good half an hour to assess the pitch behavior with a disciplined approach.
“I think the same with Virat. If Virat gets over that first 30, 40 minutes, with serious application and discipline, I don’t think he’s (out of form), none of these guys are out of form.”
Kohli and Smith will be back on the field in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne from December 26.
FAQs
What is the track record of Steve Smith in BGT?
2,011 runs in 40 innings @59.14 with 9 centuries
How has Virat Kohli fared in BGT history?
2,105 runs in 47 innings @46.77 with 9 centuries
