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Virat Kohli opens up about the challenges as captain

Thursday, 19-Sep-2024
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Indian cricket legends Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli recently sat down for a candid interview, providing insights into their experiences. With Gambhir having recently taken over as Indian head coach, the discussion touched on various topics, including their career and past experiences. 

Virat Kohli spoke about the challenges and expectations of being a young player in a high-pressure environment. Virat Kohli also opened up about the challenges he came across when MS Dhoni quit Test cricket. Kohli made his captaincy debut during the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar-Trophy between India and Australia. Kohli also emphasised that with time he got used to challenges and started to find solutions. 

"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?' We sat down and thought 'I really need to plan this out. This can't happen by chance'," Kohli said during the chat with head coach Gambhir in an interview arranged by the BCCI.

"When I started thinking from the point of view where Indian cricket has to be in 7 years' time, the solutions came. We need a group of fast bowlers. We need batters who can bat long. We need to give ownership to five batters and a keeper to get us 350-400. We can't have a seventh option,” Kohli said.

Gambhir commended Kohli for the terrific job he did after taking over the Indian captaincy. 

"I can understand what you might have gone through. A 24-25 year-old boy taking up Test captaincy and then what you did brilliantly was that you had a really strong bowling unit. Test matches are won by taking 20 wickets. Till the time you don't have a strong bowling line-up, you won't [win]. And that is what made you the most successful Test captain in the country," said Gambhir in reply.

 

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