Rohit Sharma doesn't have Virat Kohli's quality of rotating the strike: Gautam Gambhir

Virat Kohli is undoubtedly the most consistent performer in all three formats of the cricket. The right-handed batsman has an average of more than 50 in all the three formats of the game. This is an achievement which no one really has got close achieving. In addition to this, Kohli’s consistency is something which has transformed him into a modern legend of the game.

In a recent interaction, his former teammate Gautam Gambhir talked about his consistency, mindset and technique. Upon being asked if he changes his technique for each of the format, the former opener presented an interesting viewpoint. Gambhir, who was appearing on the show with Irfan Pathan, said that it is the mindset of the player which has to change with every format.

Kohli is more consistent than Rohit Sharma: Gautam Gambhir

“I think you don’t need to change anything in your game, you just need to change the mindset. The technique remains the same. A cover drive is a cover drive whether you play it in Test cricket or T20 cricket,” Gambhir said during Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.

Gambhir seemed to point out that Virat Kohli’s ability to rotate the strike makes him more suitable to different conditions. While comparing Kohli with Rohit Sharma, the former Indian cricketer said that Sharma doesn’t have the ability to rotate the strike as Kohli does. This is something which makes Kohli better than Sharma, according to Gambhir. He also took the examples of Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers.

“Even Rohit Sharma does not have that quality which Virat Kohli has, to rotate the strike. Rohit Sharma has the ability to hit the big shots but that is why Virat Kohli is more consistent than Rohit Sharma. Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers also do not have the ability to rotate strike off each delivery against spin bowling. Virat Kohli has that, which is why he is so successful,” Gambhir said.

After Gambhir, Irfan Pathan too heaped praises for the Indian captain. In the opinion of the former all-rounder, Kohli’s ability to rotate the strike has made him a difficult batsman to bowl to over the years.

“It is difficult for a bowler to plan against Kohli as he keeps taking a single and goes to the non-striker’s end. He is a special guy, who can not only rotate the strike on the leg side but he is so good with his wrist work that he can put the good ball to the third man area for a single,” said Irfan.