Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar gave a piece of advice to Virat Kohli after the first Test against England. Sachin advised Kohli to focus on what he wants to achieve. Sachin was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, “Don’t worry about what’s happening around you, keep your focus on what you want to achieve, and let your heart guide the way. Along the way there will be plenty of things said and done, but eventually, if you are passionate about what you want in life, then the results will invariably follow.”
Sachin also applauded Kohli’s batting till now. “I would say, just continue, he’s doing a fantastic job so just continue.” He also urged Kohli to not to be satisfied with his batting. “I can tell you from my own experience, however many runs you score they are never enough,” Tendulkar said.
“You want more runs, and that is the case with Virat. However many runs he scores, it will never be enough for him. “The downfall starts when you are satisfied. It’s nice to be happy, but never be satisfied when you are a batsman. Bowlers can only get 10 wickets, but batters can go on and go, so don’t be satisfied, just be happy,” he said.
Sachin also spoke about selection of young players and said that age should not be sole criteria while selecting a national team. “If somebody is good, he should play for the country and age shouldn’t be the criteria,” Tendulkar told ESPN Cricinfo after being asked about England blooding young players like the 20-year-old all-rounder Sam Curran and now batsman Ollie Pope.
Tendulkar, who made his debut against Pakistan as a 16-year-old in 1989 remembered his time as a rookie international. “When I played my first game, I was only 16. In a way, it only helped. I didn’t know what it was like to face Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir. Possibly, the best bowling attack at the stage,” Tendulkar recalled.
The batting legend believes that throwing a young cricketer to the deep end of the pool is a good thing. “You only see one side of the coin as you are young and fearless but with experience and maturity, you start seeing the other side as well to balance things out,” he added. He urged Curran and Pope to enjoy the challenge that makes international cricket so fascinating. India lost to England in the first Test by 31 runs. Virat Kohli showed amazing performance by hitting 149 and 51 runs in both the innings.
With Agency inputs