It is really hard to believe that it has been 14 years since Kohli made his debut. I can still remember his debut against Sri Lanka in one of the ODI where he was asked to open the innings. He did reasonably well in that series. I believed that he will be a good batsman but I never imagined the heights that he will eventually attain. In 14 years, Kohli has seen quite a few highs and quite a few lows. Now, in the twilight of his career, he is struggling for form but still remains a vital cog in the wheel. 14 years of Virat Kohli.

Achievements as a batsman

Right after that debut against Sri Lanka, he was dropped from the squad. This despite the fact that India at that point, were searching for good quality batsman. India were finding it tough against Mendis but Kohli was not flustered by him. Still, he was dropped after that series but returned just a year later and made his Test debut in 2011. He had a fairly difficult time in Australia but announced himself in the last test at Perth with a 75 and a hundred. As the saying goes, he never turned back and marched from thereon.

The true Kohli-era started began on the tour of South Africa towards the end of 2013. A brilliant hundred in the first innings and an equally good 96 in the second innings, that is when Kohli announced himself that he has arrived. It was those innings that must have infused tremendous amount of confidence in Kohli that he can play the best of bowler in the most difficult of conditions. The twin hundreds in New Zealand meant that he can play the swinging ball.

Kohli carried Pujara, Rahane and even Rohit

He had a purple patch for about 4 years between 2016 and 2019. The real highlight of that period was that extraordinary series in Australia. 4 hundreds in 4 Tests was unprecendented in the annals of Indian cricket. Gavaskar, Dravid and Tendulkar never managed more than 2 in a series in Australia. If not for the disastrous England tour in 2014, he would have had a fabulous year too. There in lies his greatness as a batsman. He knew pretty well that England was his Achilles heel. His repeated dismissals to Anderson being a case in point.

Before the next tour in 2018, he did all the homework and was now ready. That preparation showed in the very first test where he was the lone Indian batsman to score more than 50. Infact, he ended up with a brilliant 153. Batting with the Indian tail, which everyone knows is exceptionally brittle, he scored more than 90 runs against the likes of his nemesis, Anderson. He treated the English bowlers with utter disdain. Throughout the series, he was the only Indian batsman who showed any amount of gumption against the attack led by Anderson and Broad.

It was around this time, he carried the Indian batting on his shoulders. Rahane and Pujara were found wanting except for an odd knock here and there but Kohli gave the team and the nation hope. He more or less shielded every other batsman in the squad.

Achievements as captain

Kohli wasn’t afraid to take tough decisions.

Kohli risked everything in pursuit of test wins. That single quality defined his entire captaincy career. He wasn’t afraid to drop players like Ashwin or Pujara or Rahane though the same decision came back to bite him towards the end. His very first test as captain, albeit as a stand-in for the injured Dhoni at Adelaide where he motivated his side to win the game chasing a very stiff target. He himself played an innings that unfortunately did not result in an Indian win.

Kohli has always advocated for Test cricket to be given its prime importance. India is notorious for not playing too many Tests but it all changed under Kohli. Test cricket became the focus for both the board and the team. This is not to say that ODI and T20 did not find space but Test cricket was given priority. Players were given breaks from limited overs but against tough opponents, only the first choice players played in tests.

Two of his biggest contribution

Kohli’s two biggest contributions as captain was the importance given to fitness culture and the choice of attack. I can still remember the earlier Indian teams. In India, spinners bowled more than 70% of the overs and the batsmen were able to pile on runs that gave the bowlers ample amount of rest. However, the same wasn’t the case when India toured outside the sub-continent. The purpose of the spinner was to hold one end and help the fast bowlers being rotated. The seamers of that era were hardly able bowl more than one spell at full tilt. The depressing and disheartening tours to England and Australia are still vivid in memory. Bell, KP, Strauss and even Bresnan toyed with the Indian bowlers.

Hundreds and double hundreds were scored with elan. The Indian bowlers were hardly effective and the batsmen, after days in the field, folded quickly. The series in Australia towards the end of that year was even more humiliating. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, who were towards the end of their career and hardly able to buy a run for a couple of seasons were suddenly scoring hundreds. As an Indian fan, we never wanted tours anywhere to the SENA countries. We were happy with teams visiting India were the Indians can spin a web around their batsmen.

The Yo-Yo test

Kohli changed that and out went laziness and sluggishness and in came the yo-yo test. Ambati Rayudu and a few others were not considered because they failed the test. It will not be an understatement to state that the fitness of the bowlers was the main reason Indians proved competitive and were able to achieve some memorable wins. Now, Indian bowlers were able to come back for 3rd, 4th spells and bowl with the same intensity. The opponents were always under pressure. Though the batsmen failed to post big totals, that is mainly to do with the non-performance of certain players, the bowlers more or less compensated for the inability of the batsmen.

Culminating 14 years of Virat Kohli

There is no doubt that Kohli is one of the best batsman India has ever produced. I for one will place him below Gavaskar but certainly above Dravid and Tendulkar. He is going through a phase and he needs the support of everyone to come out of that phase. He is too good a player not to finish with an average in excess of 50.

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The role of a cricket captain

Cricket, like any other team sport, requires strong leadership to succeed. The captain of a cricket team is responsible for more than just making on-field decisions. They are the face of the team, the link between the players and the management and the driving force behind the team’s success. In this article, I will dwell on the various roles and responsibilities of a cricket captain. The role of a cricket captain. On-field decision making One of the most crucial roles of a cricket captain is to make tactical decisions on the field. They have to read the pitch, the conditions and the opposition team and make decisions that can swing the game in their team's favour. Once these things are studied, analysed and accounted for, the crucial decision of what to do if the toss is won must be decided. Here the captain can invite free and frank discussion with the team but the ultimate decision rests with the captain. There are so many instances of the captain being vilified for choosing the wrong option after winning the toss. The most famous instance is that of Nasser Hussain opting to bowl at the Brisbane Gabba all those years ago only for Hayden, Langer and Ponting to pummel the English bowlers into submission. Once, the team is on the field, he is all alone. Sure, the captain can always consult with the teammates but the flow of the game will be such that he will be required to take instant decisions based on nothing more than a hunch. The captain has to decide which bowler to use, when to change the field and when to declare or set a target. A good captain can sense the momentum of the game and make decisions that can turn the tide in their team's favour. Team selection: The captain plays a vital role in team selection. They have to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their team and pick the right players to fill the various positions. They have to consider the pitch and the conditions while selecting the team. They also have to factor in the form and fitness of the players before making a decision. A captain who can pick the right team can give their team a significant advantage. Being the captain is a thankless job. Far too many times, they are required to take some tough decisions. That is the reason Ganguly’s and Kohli’s decision of leaving the highest wicket-taker of their sides out of the playing eleven was hard to digest. They were based on sound cricketing logic rather than anything else. Motivation and inspiration: A captain is also responsible for motivating and inspiring their team. They have to instill a sense of belief and confidence in their players, especially during tough times. A good captain can lead by example, displaying a positive attitude and working hard on and off the field. They have to encourage their players to give their best and never give up. Captains lead by example is a phrase often heard in cricketing circles. It is not without reason. Motivated and performing captains often inspire the entire team to achieve greater heights that they may not have otherwise. Media and public relations: A cricket captain is also the face of the team in the media and public. They have to attend press conferences and interviews and handle questions from journalists and fans. They have to present a positive image of the team and communicate the team's goals and objectives. They also have to handle criticism and negativity in a professional manner. Captains can never lose their composure. The media may invent non-existent rivalries or rifts. Captains will have to deal with them calmly. Role model and mentor: Finally, a cricket captain is a role model and mentor for their players. They have to set an example in terms of discipline, work ethic, and team spirit. They have to mentor the younger players and help them grow and develop their skills. They have to create a culture of excellence and teamwork within the team. Far too often, Asian teams, especially Indian teams have this habit of seniors and juniors. The Indian teams of 70s, 80s and 90s were faction driven. Juniors were not treated well and as equal by the seniors. The situation was quite bad until the turn of the millennium. Ganguly changed all that. Now, it is a team of equals. Wrapping up the role of a cricket captain In conclusion, the role of a cricket captain is multifaceted and complex. They have to make tactical decisions on the field, select the right team, motivate and inspire their players, handle media and public relations, and be a role model and mentor for their team. A good captain can make a significant difference to their team's success, and their leadership skills can be the difference between winning and losing.

Cricket, like any other team sport, requires strong leadership to succeed. The captain of a cricket team is responsible for more than just making on-field decisions. They are the face

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