Mr. Kohli - ‘Please keep cool’: Emotional management concerns in sport
Virat Kohli has a tendency to lose his cool when things don’t go his away
Why does Kohli lose his cool time and again? This time, the Indian captain vented his displeasure the moment the third umpire ruled him out, caught by Malcolm Waller at mid-wicket off Kyle Jarvis for 14 in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Of course, it’s understandable if it happens once or twice, given his age and the high-pressure cricket games. But what is surprising is that he doesn’t seem to get the point, and he’s now being called as the ‘angry young man of Indian cricket’.
Yes, it’s unfortunate when you’re adjudged ‘out’ when you probably are ‘not out’, but this is not the first time this is happening to a batsman. Also, to stand his ground, argue with the umpire and throw his bat was totally uncalled for, and not at all a pleasant sight, that too by the captain!
Virat Kohli does have an aggressive temperament, and it works well as along as that aggression is channelled for batting just as a Sehwag or Mcgrath.
I recall Gilchrist stating he performed well when he is angry. On a good day, the aggression works to Kohli’s advantage and he employs it for scoring runs, but when things aren’t going well, it takes an ugly turn. He needs to realise what is under his control and what is not.
As Dravid says, ‘control the controllables’. Errors in judging, bad days, and crowd jeering are ‘external factors’ that cannot be controlled. Why even waste energy over them? It’s very unsportsmanlike to be losing one’s cool time and again, at the drop of a hat. He’s not a kid who thinks by creating a tantrum everyone around are going to appease him.
Also, he is creating an unwanted facet which sends out the wrong signal, that it is easy to needle him, and break his focus. This could very much go against him, and he alone will be to blame for it.
As Sir VV Richards told Virender Sehwag during IPL 6, you need to ‘project you’re a fighter’ – ready for any challenge. Kohli, unfortunately is doing the exact opposite – with his behaviour antics showing total lack of ‘emotional control’.
High-performance matches aren’t just about how one plays- but it has a lot to do with ‘handling pressure and unexpected events’ – which could be the DL, rain, sledging, umpiring issues, crowd etc. One wonders why he hasn’t learnt it from the inspiring Captain Cool- rarely does one see Dhoni ranting and raving, even during crucial moments!
Anil Kumble- one of India’s finest spinners – was aggressive when he bowled, but didn’t go around creating a ruckus every time things don’t go his way. There is a fine line between being aggressive while playing and throwing temper tantrums, and Kohli has to learn that.
I recall an Australian batsman once stating during my PhD study on Emotional Management, “You need to control your temper at least till you are out off the field – away from the audience and media glare; then perhaps in the dressing room, you let out a few expletives or break your bat”. This may still be a superficial attempt at managing temper, but it’s at least the first step.