Image Source: AFP
[Saba Sports News] Head coach Gautam Gambhir empathized with Virat Kohli as he reflected on Kohli’s early days as India’s Test captain following MS Dhoni’s retirement in 2015.
Kohli had captained his first Test in December 2014 during the Adelaide match against Australia, stepping in for Dhoni, who was sidelined by a thumb injury. Soon after, Kohli assumed full-time captaincy when Dhoni retired from Test cricket. Although Kohli later became India’s most successful Test captain with 40 wins, it wasn’t an easy transition.
Recalling his initial days as captain, Kohli shared with Gambhir in a BCCI interview: “The thing that excited me about Test cricket and when I was coming up as captain was the challenge. We were transitioning when you guys had made way for a youngster team and Mahi bhai left Test captaincy. I was 25, so for me it was like, ‘I am here with a bunch of 24-25 year-old guys. How do we become household names?'”
Kohli revealed how the challenge motivated him: “We need a group of fast bowlers. We need batters who can bat long… I remember the challenge excited me. I didn’t feel like, ‘Oh my god! I don’t want any part in this.’ And that’s when I was like, I am all in.”
Gambhir, recognizing Kohli’s leadership, responded, “I can understand what you might have gone through. A 24-25 year-old boy taking up Test captaincy… what you did brilliantly was building a strong bowling unit. Test matches are won by taking 20 wickets, and that made you the most successful Test captain in the country.”
He also credited Kohli for the team’s mindset: “The attitude you brought on the field from the fast bowlers—imagine having Shami, Bumrah, Ishant, Umesh, and winning overseas. I remember you playing that knock in Adelaide. We were chasing 400; it was your first game as captain, and you still wanted to win that Test match. That is the mindset, that is the culture we want to bring in.”