Renowned author and cricket follower Jeffrey Archer says he was left surprised India didn't win the World Cup in the UK under the inspiring leadership of Virat Kohli. Archer was highly impressed by the India skipper when he last met him at an Indian High Commission reception in London this year.
"He (Kohli) is a very intelligent bright guy," the famous novelist was quoted as saying by Telegraph. "What I like about him is I heard him make a speech recently in your high commission and he is a very measured, sensible, intelligent man."
"I am a great admirer, not just of his batting, but of his competitive attitude and indeed the way he conducts himself. But this has been true of the Indians for many years."
Virat is not the only India captain Archer beholds greater admiration for. "I thought (Anil) Kumble was a great captain of India," he says. "The way he behaved in Australia when (Ricky) Ponting was the captain of Australia was an example to us all on how to behave in that situation. I met him later and was able to express my admiration for his behaviour in that particular series."
"And I very much like Kapil Dev who has been a friend again for many years and your present coach Ravi (Shastri) is a wonderful man, a wonderful man."
His eyes lit up with the mention of Rahul Dravid. "Oh, yes. Beautiful stroke player. I like (David) Gower, I like Dravid. I like the stroke players," says Archer, and when he is in India, "they talk to me about Indian cricket without even talking about England."
"I didn’t see (this match) but I heard it on radio and saw a bit of it on television (but) I always say that VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid staying in all day against the Australians (at Eden Gardens in 2001) was one of the great Test matches in history. If India is playing Australia I will watch it on television. I am fascinated by it."
Archer fondly remembers his friend and former skipper Mansur Ali Khan "Tiger" Pataudi, who lost much of the vision in his right eye in a car accident and yet continued playing for India with great honour.
"I was at Oxford with the Nawab of Pataudi who was a friend and remained a dear friend through to his death. He was a great man — and a great captain of India. That was very, very sad (the accident). I am amazed that he went on to captain his country and remained a world-class cricketer — he wouldn’t make it today," Archer said.
"You’ve got so many sitting in the reserve box waiting to get in. I had the great honour and privilege of running for my country (in the 400m) — I wouldn’t make it today. So one’s realistic about the difference between the amateurs and the professionals."
(Inputs from The Telegraph)
