Former India star batsman Gundappa Viswanath, who represented India from 1969 to 1983, lauded the captaincy of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane and the Indian team’s character on the recent Australia tour.
After being bowled out for 36 in an innings in the Adelaide Test and losing the match, India bounced back to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 in what is considered to be India’s greatest Test series win. Virat Kohli had led India in the first Test and then Ajinkya Rahane took over as Kohli came back home on paternal leave.
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“It was a brilliant performance by India. That 36 all-out figure in Adelaide has changed India's mindset and has made them hungrier for wins. More than batsmen, I would like to credit the bowlers who bowled consistently throughout the series," Viswanath told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.
Virat Kohli returned to captain India against England in the four-Test series at home and lost the first match by 227 runs in Chennai. He then turned things around and led India to a 3-1 series win and took the team into the final of the ICC World Test Championship as well.
Viswanath also talked about the captaincy styles of Kohli and Rahane and the differences between the two.
"Both are talented batsmen, as well as captains. Every captain has a different approach and character. Virat and Rahane are two different characters. They both have different approaches. They both have different ways of leading a team but they both want wins.
Virat leads with aggression, Rahane with calmness, but they both are hungry for wins. Indian cricket is really in safe hands. I love watching both Virat and Rahane bat as well as lead the team," the former India cricketer said.
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"What Rahane has done in Australia, it was remarkable. It is not easy to come out of a zone when your team is all out for 36. Rahane injected confidence and then won the series as well. He was just tremendous," Viswanath further said.
India’s next Test match will be the final of the ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton to be played on June 18-22 with 23rd being the reserve day.
(Times of India inputs)
