Hailing Virat Kohli’s transformation from a 19-year-old rookie to a world-class batsman, team India coach Anil Kumble has said Kohli’s meteoric rise in international cricket has been nothing but brilliant.
The India skipper has been in phenomenal form with the bat for quite some time now and has been garnering praise from all over the world. The 28-year-old has scored an unbelievable 1168 in only nine Tests including three double-centuries in the ongoing home season and will look to continue his red-hot form in the upcoming Test series against Australia.
“Virat Kohli, brilliance! I think one word is very difficult [to describe him],” Kumble said on the sidelines of an event on Thursday (February 16).
“I have seen him develop from a 19-year-old, who walked into Royal Challengers [Bangalore’s set-up] for the first time after he won the [Under-19] World Cup as a captain, to the transformation that you see now, it’s been brilliant. To see someone that passionate, that kind of motivation and dedication he has.”
The former India bowler also has a word of praise for Mahendra Singh Dhoni who stepped down from limited-overs captaincy earlier this year after leading the Men in Blue for around a decade. Dhoni had led the team to victory in the 2007 World T20 in South Africa, the 2011 World Cup in India, and the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.
“And similarly with MS [Dhoni], coming from Ranchi, nobody expected that someone from Ranchi would be leading the country. And the way he has led the [team], 10 years as a captain, it’s extremely difficult.
“However, to be the Indian captain for 10 years is something unheard of and hats off to the way he conducted himself as a captain of the team. He was a perfect ambassador for the sport,” said Kumble.
Kumble further insisted Dhoni’s sudden decision to resign from captaincy was solely his.
“And I don’t think anything ruffled him. You could [not] really figure out what he was thinking even when one ball and six runs were needed or if the opposition needed two runs to win and you still have an over to go. You didn’t know what he was thinking, he would always go with his gut. It was amazing to win two World Cups, Champions Trophy and No 1 in Test [Rankings], you can’t ask for more,” he concluded.