NEW DELHI: Following India's 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat to Australia, Yograj Singh, father of legendary Yuvraj Singh, offered his analysis of the senior Indian batters' performance struggles. Yograj particularly noted Virat Kohli's dismissals, suggesting the need for proper guidance regarding shot selection.
Kohli scored only 190 runs across five Tests, with eight dismissals whilst chasing deliveries outside off-stump. Rohit, absent from the Perth Test due to his second child's birth, scored merely 31 runs in three Tests before opting to rest for the Sydney Test.
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Yograj emphasised that whilst India's players might not require conventional coaching, they need effective man-management to enhance their performance.
"The role of a coach becomes a significant question when you are playing for India. When you're an exceptional player representing India, you might not necessarily need coaching in the traditional sense. What you truly need is someone for man management. Sometimes, a player's mind gets blocked; they might not be scoring runs, or they keep getting out. No matter how great a player is, they can't be bigger than the game itself," Yograj said.
"Such players need someone to guide them, to say, 'Let's go to the nets and work on this.' For example, Virat Kohli got out many times playing his favourite shot - the right-hand push. That shot works on Indian pitches, in England, and elsewhere. But on certain pitches where the ball bounces and carries more, someone should have told him, 'Virat, don't play this shot.' Just play straight or leave this ball.
"This illustrates the difference between coaching and management. Identifying and pointing out a player's technical fault is coaching. Someone needs to recognise and convey these technical issues to the players. But who will tell Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli? Even they want someone to come and tell them what's going wrong," he added.
"I believe what's needed is proper management - someone who understands when a player's mind is blocked, when they're feeling low, and reassures them, saying, 'Don't worry, we're here for you. You'll do it because you're a great player.' Every player faces a downfall, even the greatest ones. It's part of the game," he continued.
Regarding head coach Gautam Gambhir's approach, Yograj noted, "Gambhir is a brilliant cricketer with a brilliant mind. He has the ability to guide the team forward. However, where there's a mistake, he points it out - and rightly so. But to hold the younger players together, proper management is essential."
"Someone needs to tell them, 'Virat, it's no big deal; it happens to everyone.' 'Rohit, don't worry, these phases come and go.' 'Bumrah, you're doing great; just stay focused.' The younger players, especially fast bowlers like Siraj, need to be guided and supported. Someone should stand with them, show them the way, and help them understand the nuances of the game," he further said.
"When players are down, struggling to perform, management becomes that magic wand that lifts them up," Yograj concluded.
Following their six-wicket defeat in Sydney, India failed to secure a position in the 2025 World Test Championship final, with Australia set to face South Africa at Lord's for their potential second consecutive title.
