Virat Kohli rose like a colossus in my eyes after the Perth Test. I was not sure about his suitability for the longer version of the game. His dismissals in the first 2 Tests and his obscene gesture at the crowd were bummers that substantiated my doubts. But after the Perth test, he was the only Indian batsman who emerged unscathed from the mess that spread across just over 2 days.
After he was the last man to fall in the 2nd inning, he was gentle enough to greet all the Aussie cricketers who were busy celebrating their total dominance. The way he has responded to the criticism shows that Kohli might still be the future of Indian Test cricket. After six Tests, his record isn’t very impressive unlike his impressive ODI record. This Perth Test might just be the starting of something big from Kohli’s blade.
India isn’t going on overseas tours for the next two years and Kohli can score big in familiar conditions at home. By the time, he embarks on his next overseas assignment, he would have become a seasoned campaigner in Tests as well. We can expect much more from him after two years of experience in home Tests.
Kohli needs to play higher up the order at No.3 as Dravid and the other seniors get ready to say goodbye to cricket. It would not be a bad idea for Kohli to be moved up to No.3 from the Adelaide Test itself. He would get time to express himself on the field and given his general positive attitude towards run scoring, the scoreboard will also keep ticking. Dravid has been guilty of getting bogged down and bringing the run rate down as a result of his recent struggles.
He is hardly the finished product. Kohli needs to curb his aggression, his foul mouthed rants and his general volatile nature. That should reduce with as the time moves on and this Aussie tour will be a big learning curve for this kid.
His career graph can be compared to Michael Clarke’s. Both have been accused of hot-headedness, leading the high life and being very expressive. Both have an obsession for tattoos and most importantly both are classic talents with built-in leadership qualities. Both started young and were mentored by Ponting and Dhoni respectively. The succession from Ponting to Clarke was seamless and the transition from Dhoni to Kohli, also needs to start sooner than later. Clarke has matured both as a player and captain and he is what he is today. Kohli has just started in Tests and it won’t be long before we see Kohli captaining the Indian side.
After he was the last man to fall in the 2nd inning, he was gentle enough to greet all the Aussie cricketers who were busy celebrating their total dominance. The way he has responded to the criticism shows that Kohli might still be the future of Indian Test cricket. After six Tests, his record isn’t very impressive unlike his impressive ODI record. This Perth Test might just be the starting of something big from Kohli’s blade.
India isn’t going on overseas tours for the next two years and Kohli can score big in familiar conditions at home. By the time, he embarks on his next overseas assignment, he would have become a seasoned campaigner in Tests as well. We can expect much more from him after two years of experience in home Tests.
Kohli needs to play higher up the order at No.3 as Dravid and the other seniors get ready to say goodbye to cricket. It would not be a bad idea for Kohli to be moved up to No.3 from the Adelaide Test itself. He would get time to express himself on the field and given his general positive attitude towards run scoring, the scoreboard will also keep ticking. Dravid has been guilty of getting bogged down and bringing the run rate down as a result of his recent struggles.
He is hardly the finished product. Kohli needs to curb his aggression, his foul mouthed rants and his general volatile nature. That should reduce with as the time moves on and this Aussie tour will be a big learning curve for this kid.
His career graph can be compared to Michael Clarke’s. Both have been accused of hot-headedness, leading the high life and being very expressive. Both have an obsession for tattoos and most importantly both are classic talents with built-in leadership qualities. Both started young and were mentored by Ponting and Dhoni respectively. The succession from Ponting to Clarke was seamless and the transition from Dhoni to Kohli, also needs to start sooner than later. Clarke has matured both as a player and captain and he is what he is today. Kohli has just started in Tests and it won’t be long before we see Kohli captaining the Indian side.