IND vs AUS: Can Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar Address India Batters' Technical Flaws in Australia?

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are facing criticism for their performances in the ongoing Test series against Australia. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant have also struggled to show patience, highlighting a broader issue.

Patience is a skill developed over time, as demonstrated by Kohli during his peak years from 2014 to 2019.

KL Rahul has shown his technique with scores of 77 and 84 in Perth and Brisbane. However, Jaiswal's shuffle across the crease makes him vulnerable to leg-before dismissals. Gill's tendency to play outside the off-stump can lead to impatience, while Pant faces challenges with deliveries that bounce from a five-metre length.

Coaching Challenges and Player Development

Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar, known for their coaching roles, face questions about addressing these issues. A former India player noted that not all great players make great coaches. "Not all great players or players of repute happen to be great coaches," he said, emphasising that coaching is a science.

The veteran added that it's easier to work with younger players than older ones who have limited time due to busy schedules. Watching Kohli's dismissals in Australia has raised concerns about recurring technical flaws. The question remains whether anyone can provide solutions to break this cycle.

Technical Flaws and Coaching Roles

Sanjay Manjrekar's tweet highlights the need to examine the role of batting coaches in the Indian team. "I guess the time has come to scrutinise the role of a batting coach in the Indian team," he tweeted. Manjrekar questions why major technical issues remain unresolved for some Indian batters.

This view raises questions about Sanjay Bangar, Vikram Rathour, and now Nayar's roles as batting coaches. Devang Gandhi, a former touring selector, offers a nuanced perspective. He believes it's unfair to target Nayar or Gambhir as they are new to the system.

Mental Approach and Training

Gandhi suggests that Kohli's problem lies in his mental approach. "If you watch his training videos...he is playing close to his body," Gandhi explained. However, during matches, Kohli's hands move towards deliveries outside off-stump due to muscle memory.

Gandhi attributes this issue to increasing T20 engagements. When Kohli's bat moves away from his body, it opens up towards cover. This is a white-ball problem of hitting through the line, which differs between India and Australia due to ball bounce.

Patience and Adaptation

Gandhi questions whether Kohli can adapt his game at this stage of his career. After 30 Test hundreds, does he have the patience to score a hundred off 200 balls instead of 140? Sachin Tendulkar's 241 in Sydney in 2004 exemplifies patience by avoiding cover drives until reaching a double century.

Gandhi believes coaching happens at junior levels and that experienced players like Kohli need honest conversations rather than coaching. "You can be a sounding board for players like Tendulkar and Kohli but at this stage, you can't coach them," he added.

Ultimately, Gambhir or Nayar might help Kohli find solutions through discussions. They should first ask him about his corrective options before offering their own suggestions if they have something different to contribute.