Virat Kohli talks about the challenge he faces after MS Dhoni’s decision to step down from Test captaincy
Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir provided fans with an unforgettable experience with a heartfelt talk. Frequently garnering attention due to the’masala’ in their connection, Kohli revealed his feelings to Gambhir, the man who just assumed the position of Head Coach for Team India. Some amazing stories were told as the two spoke about their careers, personalities, and aspirations for Indian cricket.
When talking about the renowned Australia series of 2014–15, Virat revealed the difficulty he had when MS Dhoni said he was quitting as Test captain, handing the reins of leadership to Kohli and his youthful squad.
“The challenge was what intrigued me about playing Test cricket and emerging as captain. We were changing over when Mahi bhai stepped down as Test captain and you guys created room for a younger squad. I was 25, so I thought, “I’m here with a bunch of guys who are also 24 or 25 years old.” How can we become well-known? We decided to plan this out as soon as we sat down. “This can’t happen by accident,” Kohli said in an interview set up by the BCCI with head coach Gambhir.
Rather of letting the burden get to him, Kohli made the decision to go up to the plate. As they say, the rest is history.
“The answers emerged when I began to consider where Indian cricket needs to go in seven years. We need a team of quick bowlers. Long-striving hitters are what we need. To obtain 350–400, we must assign five hitters and a keeper to each position. There cannot be a seventh choice. I recall being enthused about the task. It wasn’t like, “Oh my god!” I want no involvement in this. At that point, I felt completely committed.”
Although Gambhir is just a 25-year-old batter himself, the head coach of India praised Kohli for leading the team bravely, and Kohli took solace in those remarks.
“I can appreciate what you may have experienced. Having a very good bowling unit was what you accomplished well when a lad, aged between 24 and 25, took up the role of Test captain. It takes 20 wickets to win a test match. You will not [win] unless you have a potent bowling lineup. And that’s what made you the nation’s most successful Test captain,” Gambhir said.
“You deserve credit because, as a batter, it is quite simple to have a powerful 6-7 batsman who puts runs on the board. However, what really matters is the way you recognized quick bowlers and, more significantly, the mentality you brought to the game. Imagine winning abroad with players like Shami, Bumrah, Ishant, and Umesh. You played that knock in Adelaide, I seem to recall. Even though it was your first game as captain and we were chasing 400, you still wanted to win the Test match. That’s the attitude, that’s the culture we want to introduce,” he went on.
