Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer highlighted the high points in Virat Kohli’s captaincy career, saying that the kind of culture he brought to the team is tremendous.
After leading Team India for seven years in Tests, Virat Kohli shell shocked many when he suddenly announced his decision to step down as the Indian Test skipper through a social media post on Saturday (15th January).
Virat Kohli tasted huge success during his 7-year stint as the Indian Test captain. The 33-year-old led India to 40 wins from 68 matches at a win percentage of 58.92%, which makes him the most successful Indian skipper.
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He was applauded by many fans and pundits for his incredible stint as the Indian Test skipper. Many also congratulated him for the legacy he left behind.
Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, Wasim Jaffer said that Virat Kohli has done his job immensely well as a captain and led from the format, taking lots of challenges.
He lauded Kohli for his leadership in all three formats of the game, saying that even though he didn’t win any ICC trophy but his record as an all-format skipper is tremendous.
"He has done immensely well as a captain. He led from the front and he is one of those guys who takes on challenges head on and there's no doubt that he did take a lot of challenges. The way he has led India in all three formats has been commendable.
“Even though we keep saying that he hasn't won an ICC trophy, other than that he has a great record as a leader, whether it's at home where he hasn't lost any series as a captain, he lost only two Test matches. Away from home, he has got tremendous success," Wasim Jaffer said.
Jaffer stressed that as a white-ball skipper Kohli won trophies in New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. He said that the highest point in his captaincy career was when India defeated Australia at their home, which no sub-continent team has done.
“As a white-ball captain, he won T20 trophies in New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. Beating Australia in Australia was the icing on the cake for him as a leader. I think no sub-continent team has gone to Australia and beaten Australia. It was probably the highest point as a captain,” he said.
Jaffer said that the kind of culture Kohli brought to the team is tremendous and it is because of that India has such a high-quality bowling attack, irrespective of the conditions.
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"The kind of culture he has brought to the Indian team and the fast-bowling firepower that India has become under him is tremendous, something which India never had.
"Now we've got such a high-quality bowling attack and I think India has definitely got one of the best bowling attacks going around whether it's seaming conditions or spinning conditions,” he said.
Wasim Jaffer highlighted that Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri deserve a lot of credit for Team India’s success of late.
"I think the Indian team has got an attack to favor all kinds of conditions and a lot of credit needs to go to him (Virat Kohli) and Ravi Shastri also. Because I think they both kind-of complemented each other as captain and a coach,” he said.
Wasim Jaffer further said that Rohit Sharma should be the obvious choice for India right now to captain in all three formats. He suggested that they can also look to groom Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, who can be the potential Indian captains in the future.
"Rohit Sharma I feel will be the obvious choice right now for him to lead in all three formats but selectors in a year or two years time look for a replacement. Or look for somebody to groom and the obvious name that comes to mind is Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul.
“And I would also take the name of Shreyas Iyer because I think these three guys have the potential to be Indian captain for the future,” he concluded.
