'Reset, avoid on-field battles': ABD offers Kohli key advice

South African great AB de Villiers offered advice to his friend Virat Kohli following a challenging tour of Australia. Kohli struggled against deliveries outside the off-stump, particularly those bowled by

Scott Boland

.
India lost the

Border-Gavaskar Trophy

to Australia, ending a 10-year winning streak. The final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground saw Australia win by six wickets, sealing the series 1-3.

Kohli's performance throughout the series was underwhelming. He scored only 190 runs in nine innings, averaging 23.75. His sole century, an unbeaten 100, came in the first Test at Perth.

While this century initially raised hopes, Kohli's form dipped significantly in subsequent matches. His scores included 7 and 11 in Adelaide, 3 in Brisbane, 36 and 5 in Melbourne, and 17 and 6 in Sydney.
De Villiers, in a video shared on X, suggested that Kohli needs to "reset his mind." He emphasized the importance of moving past individual on-field battles.
"I think the thing is to reset your mind, every time. I think with Virat, he gets involved with the battle on the field. That is one of his biggest strengths and it can also be a weakness. During this series, we saw him have individual battles with some of the players, the crowd got under his skin. Virat loves the fight, but when you are not in the form of your life, it is best to get rid of those things. As a batter, it is to reset every single and realize every ball is an event and just forget about the bowler," he said.

"I think sometimes Virat forgets about that because of his fighting spirit and the nature of the man wanting to be involved and show the whole of India he is there to fight for them. The skill, experience and greatness of the guy are not an issue. It's about the refocus after every single ball. Maybe sometimes he gets too involved," De Villiers added.
He acknowledged Kohli's fighting spirit and desire to represent India with passion. However, De Villiers suggested that Kohli needs to refocus after every ball and avoid excessive engagement.
Kohli's overall performance in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle was also analyzed. He amassed 751 runs in 14 matches at an average of 32.65, including two centuries and three fifties. His highest score was 121.
The current 2024-25 Test season has been particularly difficult for Kohli. He has managed only 382 runs in 10 matches, averaging 22.87 with a single century and a fifty.
Kohli's form since the start of 2020 has been a concern. In 39 matches, he has scored 2,028 runs at an average of 30.72, with three centuries and nine fifties. His highest score during this period is 186.