“He should work himself in with proper cricketing shots then widen the scope of the shots”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Legendary India batsman Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli for his side’s dismal performance in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Despite having a team stocked with foreign superstars, including Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Travis Head, Tymal Mills and Samuel Badree, the Royal Challengers have failed to live up to expectations as they languish at the bottom of the points table with only two wins in the 12 games they have played thus far.

Even though Kohli has struck three half-centuries since returning from a shoulder injury he suffered in the recent four-Test series against Australia, Gavaskar admitted that he has been less than impressed with the 28-year-old’s shot selection.

“First thing he should be doing is look (at) himself in the mirror,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “The shot he played (against Kings XI) wasn’t exactly a great shot. The shot he played at Eden Gardens (against Kolkata, when dismissed for a duck) wasn’t a great shot.

“He has got to say to himself that he is the captain, he has got to stay out there. He is not in form so stay there and he should work himself in with proper cricketing shots then widen the scope of the shots.”

However, while Kohli bore the brunt of Gavaskar’s anger, the 67-year-old pointed out that other players in the side have committed the same mistakes.

“Apart from (Chris) Gayle, who was deceived by late movement, Virat went for that big six shot, AB de Villiers went for that big six shot, Mandeep Singh, having settled down, went for the big shot,” he said. “Your main batsmen went for the glamour shots instead of looking to play proper cricketing shots.

“Just get the boundary. Between a four and a six the difference is two runs (but) because you hit the ball in the air, the risk percentage goes up to 100.”