Virender Sehwag, former India captain, on Monday revealed how Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s current limited-overs skipper, played an important role in saving Virat Kohli’s career.
The story goes back to 2011-12, when India toured Australia for four Tests followed by a Tri-Series. It was during the Test series when Kohli’s form came under scanner and he was on verge of getting dropped from squad after failing in the first two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney. Rohit Sharma, who was yet to make his Test debut at that time, was in contention to replace Kohli for the Perth Test but Dhoni and Sehwag decided to back the current India Test skipper.
Kohli repaid the faith shown in him and scored 44 and 75 in both innings followed by a ton in the fourth and final Test at Adelaide. It was the only century by an Indian batsman on that tour.
“The selectors wanted to play Rohit Sharma instead of Kohli at Perth in 2012,” said Sehwag. “I was the vice-captain and Dhoni was leading the team and we decided that we have to back Kohli. The rest is history,” Sehwag said.
With consistent performances with the bat, Virat Kohli was accelerated to the captaincy role in Tests. Incidentally, it was the same place two years later when Dhoni announced his retirement and the Delhi lad became his obvious successor.
Had Dhoni and Sehwag not backed him, the results could have been different today.