India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has talked about the Indian captain Virat Kohli’s ongoing struggles with the bat. Kohli hasn’t managed to light the stage on fire in the two Tests against England in the ongoing series.
He has scores of 0, 42, and 20 in three innings this far though India won the second Test at Lord’s and went 1-0 up with three more Tests to go.
Sachin Tendulkar, in an interview with the Times of India, talked about Kohli’s struggles.
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He said: “Virat hasn't had a great start. It is the mind that leads to technical errors and if the start isn't good you start thinking about a lot of things. Because anxiety levels are high you tend to overcompensate for your movements. When a batsman isn't in good form you either go too far across or don't move your feet at all. That happens to everyone. Form is also your state of mind along with the body working in harmony.”
Tendulkar was also asked about the performances of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj thus far and he was impressed with both the fast bowlers.
“I felt before the WTC final, Bumrah didn't have enough long spells under his belt. He is the kind of bowler who is like the more he bowls, the better he gets. He doesn't only have a big heart but also has brains and we saw that yesterday when he outsmarted Ollie Robinson with a brilliant slower ball to dismiss him after peppering him with a few short balls,” Tendulkar said about Bumrah.
On Siraj, the little master said: “Siraj is a quick learner and adapts well to situations. He has come across as a fast learner. Fast bowlers have a period where they develop very quickly. You look at them and you know they are different bowlers now.
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They have that window where they develop and that window is at the moment with Siraj. He has developed very quickly. When I saw him in MCG last year to now, what strikes is the fact that Siraj has learnt how to construct an over, how to bowl a spell. That ability to think is critical. He has spring in his strides and gives his hundred percent every time.”
Tendulkar was also asked to compare the current Indian bowling attack to that of previous years.
“Today this bowling attack is the best in the world. It's a reflection of talent, discipline, and ability to work hard on fitness and wanting to learn more. I don't like comparisons across eras because bowling attacks should also be judged by batters who are batting against them. Be it during Kapil's or Srinath's or Zaheer's generation, there were different batsmen facing them,” Tendulkar said.
He further opined on England's batting lineup and said that apart from Joe Root, he doesn’t see anyone else scoring a hundred or get runs consistently.
(Times of India inputs)
