Dilip Vengsarkar has revealed the series of events that led to Virat Kohli’s selection in the Indian team. Former captain Dilip Vengsarkar was the man responsible for giving Indian cricket the genius of Virat Kohli.
The former India captain was the chairman of selectors of the BCCI in 2008 when Virat Kohli received his India cap.
Dilip Vengsarkar Reveals How The Selectors Picked Virat Kohli In The Emerging Players Tournament In Australia
Virat Kohli’s India debut had roughly six just months after he had led the Under-19 team to a World Cup win in Malaysia in the year 2008, and recalling how the then-India youngster had risen through the ranks exponentially, Dilip Vengsarkar revealed the series of events that led to Virat Kohli’s selection in the Indian team.
“I had watched Virat for the first time at the Under-16 tournament when he played for Delhi schools and it was in Kolkata. He didn’t score many runs but he was very impressive. And later on, of course, he played Under-19 for India and did extremely well.
“They won the World Cup. And then the emerging players’ tournament was happening in Australia,” Vengsarkar said in a video uploaded by BCCI.
“I was the chairman of the selection committee. And we had picked Under-23 boys in the tournament because what we felt was that emerging players should be under 23 because they are the future of Indian cricket. That’s how we picked Virat Kohli.”
In the Emerging Players Tournament 2009, India took the 50-over title with a 17-run win over South Africa at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Saturday. Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer with 398 runs, including two centuries and as many fifties, while Sudeep Tyagi led the wicket charts with 14 wickets.
South Africa were the overwhelming favourites to take the title, having won all eight games but failed to chase down a challenging 284 in the final. The in-form opener Virat Kohli (104) and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha (74) were the top performers with the bat while the Uttar Pradesh fast bowler Sudeep Tyagi took 4 for 74 to derail the chase.
Dilip Vengsarkar Reckons Virat Kohli Will Play For Another 5-6 Years
The Colonel of Indian cricket, Dilip Vengsarkar congratulated Virat Kohli on the phenomenal achievement of playing 100 Tests and underlines the three aspects that he feels have made Virat Kohli a top player in world cricket. At 33, Virat Kohli still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket, with Dilip Vengsarkar backing the star India batter to carry on for another five years at least.
“To play 100 Test matches for India is a fantastic achievement. It shows Virat’s class as an international player. His focus, passion and discipline, these are the virtues which have enabled him to play for so long for India.
“He is still very young, extremely fit and I’m sure he will play for maybe another 5-6 years easily. He is one of the best in the world,” mentioned Vengsarkar.
Virat Kohli joined an elite list of cricketers as he played the ongoing 100th Test match as India takes on Sri Lanka in the first of the two-match Test series in Mohali. Virat Kohli became the 71st player in the world to play 100 Tests. Virat Kohli’s journey in international cricket started in 2008 when he was picked to play in an ODI against Sri Lanka in August 2008. He made his Test debut in 2011.