Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer on Thursday (24th March) said that despite not being the captain anymore, Virat Kohli knows how to carry the team. 

Virat stepped down as India’s T20I skipper ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. After that, he was sacked as ODI captain by the BCCI, who made Rohit Sharma the new white-ball skipper. 

If this was not enough, Kohli after India’s Test series defeat against South Africa, relinquished Test captaincy as well and Rohit was named the new all-format captain of Team India. 

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In the recently concluded white-ball series against West Indies and Test series against Sri Lanka, Kohli played under the leadership of Rohit. The duo many times was seen discussing the plans and setting field positions together.

Speaking to Times of India, Venkatesh Iyer, who made his debut under Rohit, talked about Kohli’s role in the team and recalled Sourav Ganguly’s words, where he said that to be a leader one doesn’t have to hold a position.

“I remember Dada (Sourav Ganguly) quoting once 'to be a leader you don't necessarily have to be holding a position'. A leader is someone who irrespective of his position is able to create an environment where everyone is at parity,” Venkatesh Iyer said. 

Venkatesh lauded the duo of Kohli and Sharma for guiding the youngsters and taking India to wins. He expressed his delight in sharing the dressing room with senior Indian players. 

"Virat bhai has got huge huge experience. He is a leader. He knows how to carry the team. We have seen on the TV screens how these two - Rohit and Virat - guide youngsters, how they discuss and plan things and take India to wins. It is really amazing to have both players in the dressing room," he said. 

The trio of Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer and Rohit Sharma will be next seen in action during the IPL 2022. The tournament will begin on 26th March in Mumbai with KKR taking on CSK in the tournament opener. 

(TOI inputs)