American sprinter Jackie Joyner-Kersee once said, “Age is no barrier. It is a limitation you put on your mind”.
As India and Australia prepare to face off in one of the most anticipated Test series of modern times, the spotlight shines not only on the teams but also on three cricketing giants: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.
These players, all in their mid-30s, find themselves on the cusp of a defining moment. Having dominated the game in their prime, they now face the unique challenges that come with age and experience in a young man’s sport.
This series will likely be determined not by raw skill alone, but by how these three veterans adapt to the physical and mental demands of Test cricket in the twilight of their careers.
Sharma’s rise in Test cricket was initially chequered. Known for his graceful stroke play and impeccable timing, Sharma’s natural talent was evident from the start, but inconsistency plagued his early years.
He made his mark in limited-overs formats before finally breaking into the Test side as an opener in 2019. The promotion rejuvenated his game, transforming him into one of India’s most reliable Test batsmen.
For Steve Smith, physical resilience and mental sharpness don’t come as effortlessly as they once did.Credit: Getty Images
Now, as captain of the Indian team, he faces the dual pressures of leading and performing – a challenge he will need to meet with both finesse and resilience.
Kohli, the relentless competitor, built his reputation on his sheer willpower and aggressive approach. From a young, fiery batsman to one of the world’s premier cricketers, Kohli’s dedication to fitness, mental strength and consistency has been unmatched.
Between 2016 and 2019, he was at his peak, amassing runs with an ease and consistency rarely seen. As he steps into this series, Kohli faces the daunting twin tasks of recapturing the edge that once defined him and maintaining the staggering run-scoring spree of his halcyon days.
Smith’s journey, meanwhile, has been one of reinvention. Initially squeezed into the team as a leg-spinning all-rounder, he transformed into Australia’s leading Test batsman with a unique technique and incredible concentration.
Virat Kohli is struggling to recapture the edge that once defined him.Credit: AP
His golden run from 2014 to 2019 established him as one of the best batsmen of his generation. Yet, as he navigates the challenges of his mid-30s, Smith finds himself at a point where physical resilience and mental sharpness don’t come as effortlessly as they once did.
The transition into one’s 30s brings a set of challenges that every cricketer confronts. Test cricket, in particular, is an unforgiving format, requiring intense focus, acute mental clarity and robust physical endurance over extended periods.
A younger player often focuses solely on scoring runs, unburdened by overthinking pitch conditions, match situation or their own weaknesses.
However, with age and experience, a player becomes highly conversant about their strengths, vulnerabilities and the game’s finer nuances.
In 2005, I had a memorable conversation with Sachin Tendulkar that sheds light on the struggle players face as they age. Sachin, already a legend at the time, asked me: “Greg, why does batting become harder as you get older? Surely it should get easier?”
Sachin Tendulkar struggled to understand why batting got harder with age.Credit: Getty Images
I explained to him that the mental demands of batting intensify with age: “Batting gets harder because you realise how hard it is to make runs at this level and how difficult it is to maintain the mental focus that is required to be successful. It is not the eyesight or the reflexes that drop off; it is the intense focus that is required that becomes harder to sustain. When one is younger, the mind is focused on making runs.
“As you age, the opposition has put work into finding your weaknesses, and you are more aware of the conditions and the situation of the game. As a young player, you don’t worry about the conditions or the situation of the game, you only see the ball and how to make runs. If you want to play like you did as a younger player, you have to rekindle the attitude and the thought processes that you had as a younger player. That is the greatest challenge for the ageing player.”
This sentiment captures what Sharma, Kohli and Smith will confront this series. They know that opposition teams have scrutinised their techniques, studied their weaknesses and developed strategies specifically to exploit even minor chinks.
This series will be as much a battle of wits and endurance as it will be of skill, with each player needing to summon the drive and adaptability of their younger selves.
As this heavyweight clash approaches, each player will search for the mental state that fuelled their peak performances. For Sharma, the challenge lies in balancing his aggressive instincts with the calculated caution that Test cricket demands.
As captain, he must maintain his own form while shouldering the pressure of leadership – a delicate balance he’ll need to master if India is to thrive.
For Kohli, the task is one of rejuvenation. Known for his unmatched intensity, passion and high standards, Kohli’s recent travails will have annoyed him. The aggressive mindset that propelled him to greatness must now coexist with patience and focus. He enters this series hungry to reiterate his authority as India’s most formidable batsman of his generation.
Smith’s challenge is distinct, but no less demanding. His recent experimentation with different batting roles, including a stint as an opener, reflects his search for freshness and motivation.
However, for this series, he has chosen to return to his favoured No.4 spot, a place where he has consistently excelled. This decision shows his desire to lean on familiarity, even as he grapples with the reality of age.
For Smith, the mental game will involve maintaining the fierce concentration he once found so easily.
Beyond the mental focus, the physical toll of ageing cannot be ignored: even the greatest players face a gradual decline, not in physical capability, but in the ability to maintain the laser focus that once defined them.
The stakes are incredibly high for Sharma, Kohli and Smith in this series, and the outcome may well depend on how well they can summon and reincarnate their younger selves.
Each player is more than a celebrated cricketer; they are icons of the determination and skill that defines our game. This series will be a defining chapter in their legacies.
The team that can rely on its veterans, whose resilience can balance the exuberance of younger players, will likely emerge on top.
This Test series, then, is more than just another chapter in cricket; it is a testament to the challenges that father time presents to even the most skilled players.
For Sharma, Kohli, and Smith, the true battle is not against their opponents but against time itself.
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