Team India chief coach Ravi Shastri believes the dynamic leader in Virat Kohli, has got better with the way he led the national team against Australia. Although, Shastri thinks there’s plenty to be done strategically. However, he believes Kohli has evolved himself as a skipper across formats.
There’s always a room for improvement:
The former Team India cricket Shastri remarked the progress has been smooth and it’s heartening to see Kohli making things tough for the hosts Down Under.
“Tactically, there is still room for plenty of improvement as captain. He has gotten better and better, and better, and I thought in the Australian Test series, tactically he outsmarted Australia. I still see more room across formats for him to evolve. As a captain, Virat will evolve further,” Shastri told Cricbuzz.
Also, Kohli has learnt from mistakes by focusing on how things could benefit him as a team leader. Recently, under Kohli’s leadership India clinch the historic Test series 2-1 on Australian soil.
Kohli evolution has further reaped the rewards for the Men in Blue by clinching their first-ever bilateral ODI series in Down Under. Pertinently, Kohli has used his bowlers exceedingly well to pay rich dividends for the team in a nutshell.
Shastri sees Kohli as Richards and Imran Khan:
Talking about Kohli’s prominence, Shastri said he is akin to Windies great Sir Vivian Richards. Shastri sheds light on the leadership role and subsequently remarked Kohli reminds him of Pakistan’s Imran Khan. He added Kohli has had set an example by giving his best owing to his work ethic and sacrifice.
“But here is a guy who is as dominant as Sir Vivian Richards. The closest I have seen to the great man. [Kohli] He reminds me of Imran Khan in many ways – in the way he sets the example and sets the standards, and goes about defining it in his own way and leading from the front,” Shastri added.
Kohli who is enjoying his off time, following a series win over New Zealand, had set a remarkable example for the youngsters according to Shastri. He has been rested for the two ODIs and three-match Twenty20 International series against the Black Caps.
Moreover, 2018 has brought a lot into the store for Kohli. He bagged all three major ICC Awards. But Shastri believes it is not happening anytime soon.
“I don’t think anyone will ever do it again. It is something very rare because you need two things to happen to win all awards in a single year. You need to be a captain of a very good cricket team across formats,” Shastri said.
In ODIs, Kohli has recently slammed his 39th ODI hundred. He has featured in 222 ODIs, 77 Tests and 65 T20Is for India.