Indian cricket team currently has possibly one of the best pace attacks in the world cricket comprising of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, and Umesh Yadav, and its all credit goes to captain Virat Kohli, says 1983 World Cup-winning pacer, Madan Lal.
However, former pacer admitted that then captain Sunil Gavaskar brought in the culture of backing his fast bowlers but the way Kohli has been encouraging and backing his pace battery it is “unbelievable”, saying the way current India captain “encouraged the pacers, no other captain has done it.”
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The former cricketer further went on to claim that Kohli is on the right track with the pacers and current Team India is going to win a lot more matches in the near future because of the pace attack.
Speaking to sports analyst Joy Bhattacharjya for Sony Ten Pit Stop, Madan Lal said: “The way Virat Kohli encouraged the pacers, no other captain has done it. I can bet on this. When you have a good pace attack. Going back 15-20 years, India did not win these many matches.”
He added, “Now you're winning it because of the pace attack. Kohli knows that if his pace attack is good, he has more chances of helping the team win. I think this culture of encouraging pace bowlers was started by Sunil Gavaskar. The way Virat Kohli is doing it is unbelievable. He is on the right track with the pacers. You've got 4 or 5 bowlers who are going to win us a lot of matches in the near future.”
Meanwhile, he also feels difficult to compare current Indian set-up with the 1985 squad, adding: “It's very difficult to compare (1985 team and Kohli's team). This team, I think, is one of the best teams ever. Sourav [Ganguly], MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli now. Virat Kohli has changed the concept of the game. He cultivated the fitness culture and belief in your own ability.”
Former Indian cricketer doesn’t want to criticize Kohli for his aggressive approach, saying people should appreciate the captain for the same as that approach put doubts in the minds of oppositions.
He signed off by saying, “I like his aggression. A lot of people criticize him but I don't want to. We needed this. We used to say that Indians were not that aggressive. Now a player, who is our captain, has come with aggression, he should be appreciated.
Sometimes, it goes over the line. But that's fine because it's a game. He wants to win every time. When we go to Australia, they are worried about India. When we go to England, they are worried.”
(With India Today Inputs)
