Ian Chappell, former Australian skipper feels that one of Virat Kohli’s great achievements was to instil a craving for Test cricket in the Indian team. Virat Kohli stepped down as Team India Test captain, earlier this month following the Test series defeat to South Africa.
The 33-year-old finished as India’s most successful Test captain with a historic Test series win over Australia in 2018-19 and a power pack show on England tour last year. Australian great Ian Chappell has found Virat Kohli to be an exceptional captain who has carried the Indian team to a higher level and considered England’s Joe Root a “fine batter but poor captain”.
Ian Chappell: Virat Kohli Was Exceptional As Captain And India Tasted Overseas Success Like No Other Previous Indian Skippers
Ian Chappell heaped praises on Virat Kohli’s leadership and claims that no Indian captain tasted success like him in overseas conditions. He also was India’s most successful captain in the format, winning more Tests in SENA and overseas nations than any other skippers.
“There’s no doubt Kohli was an exception as captain; he didn’t curb his enthusiasm but he was still able to lead the Indian team to a higher level. With the capable assistance of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, he lifted India to overseas success like no other captain had done,” Ian Chappell wrote in his column.
Virat Kohli took over the captaincy charge from MS Dhoni when India was ranked 7th in ICC Test Rankings while he left with the Asian giants leading the charts. Ian Chapell said that the former India skipper led India passionately as he instilled a craving for red-ball cricket in the team.
“One of Kohli’s great achievements was instilling in his team a craving for Test cricket. Despite his all-encompassing success, Kohli’s major aim was to achieve victory in the Test arena and this is where his passion really shone,” Ian Chappell wrote.
Virat Kohli’s decision to quit Test captaincy helped raise quite a few eyebrows as he evolved into India’s most successful Test captain, winning 40 Tests in 68 matches.
Ian Chappell: Rishabh Pant’s Support By Virat Kohli Was A Master Stroke
The legendary Australia cricketer further hailed Virat Kohli for the development of Rishabh Pant and his support for the wicketkeeper batter was a masterstroke.
“There is no doubt that Kohli drove his men hard but it’s also apparent they enjoyed competing and wanted success. Kohli has a number of individual achievements in his resumé, none bigger than the development of Rishabh Pant as a wicketkeeper and batter.
“Kohli tended to get his way when it came to selection and some of his decisions in this area were a little questionable but there’s no doubting his support of Pant was a master stroke,” Ian Chappell added.
Rishabh Pant has played a significant role in some of Team India’s most memorable wins in the last year or so. Rishabh Pant had scored 274 runs at an average of 68.50 in five innings for India against Australia in 2020/21 Down Under. The keeper continued his form against England at home where he hit 270 runs at an average of 54.00 as he was the second-highest run-getter for India in the series.
Rishabh Pant was handed his Test debut in 2018, during the series in England. Under Virat Kohli’s leadership, he scored 1444 runs in 24 matches at 38 with four centuries. Three of his hundreds came away from home – against England in 2018, Australia in 2019 and South Africa in 2022.
Rishabh Pant also played one of the pivotal roles in India’s comeback victory in the 2020/21 series against Australia with back-to-back spectacular knocks in the fourth innings of a Test. His 97 off 118 in Sydney helped India salvage a draw in the third Test while his unbeaten 89 off 138 helped the visitors script a historic Gabba win.