Virat Kohli’s recent form has been a hot topic throughout the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with much of the focus on his performances in the series. During the third Test in Brisbane, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar offered some advice to Kohli, suggesting that he take a lesson from Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic 241-run innings in Sydney, where he restricted himself from playing the cover drive to ensure a more solid approach.

Sunil Gavaskar’s advice, however, didn’t sit well with Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, who strongly disagreed with the suggestion. Gavaskar’s comments came during his commentary stint in the third Test, where the cricketing world was watching Kohli closely, given the limited success he had in the early parts of the series. With two Tests remaining—the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne (December 26 to 30) and the New Year’s Test in Sydney (January 3 to 7)—the conversation around Kohli’s form continued to dominate discussions.

Virat Kohli has been under the spotlight for his inconsistent performances, and his recent struggles have invited scrutiny. Responding to Gavaskar’s suggestion, Rajkumar Sharma emphasized that while Gavaskar’s advice comes from a place of great respect and experience, it’s not fair to judge Kohli’s form based on a few innings.

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Rajkumar Sharma pointed out that Kohli had already scored a century in the series, something few players have achieved, and that’s a clear indicator of his skill and form. As quoted by NDTV, Sharma said, “Sunil Gavaskar has been a great player and his suggestions are always welcomed, but I hope he suggests others also about their batting. He has been performing well since 2008. It will be unfair to say that he is out of form on the basis of two innings.”

Kohli’s form had also been under question during India’s recent home season, where he struggled in the series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He could only manage 99 runs in four innings against Bangladesh and just 93 runs in six innings against New Zealand. Despite these figures, Sharma remains confident that Kohli’s form will eventually return.

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“To be honest, I didn’t know much about the stats, but the kind of player he is, he will bounce back. I think he is too good a player to be told anything and criticized because he has been the most consistent player in Indian cricket history,” said Rajkumar Sharma, showing unwavering belief in his protege’s ability to come back strong.

The debate around Kohli’s form continues, but his past performances and proven consistency leave little doubt about his eventual return to his best.