Cricket Xtra: Virat Kohli approach is refreshing for Indian cricket

Ajit Vijaykumar 11:06 27/07/2015
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  • Kohli can stamp his authority on the team in Sri Lanka.

    Success is dependent on many factors, some of which are beyond one’s control. What can be influenced is the process, which is a cliche, but true nonetheless. In sport, fans want to see a fight, regardless of victory or loss. 

    However, they also appreciate when the player goes about his job the right way and makes the best use of his abilities. Virat Kohli comes across as an individual who likes to do things the right way. Short cuts are not for him, that’s for sure and he has definitely come a long way from his wild days that saw him being sidelined from the national team.

    — BCCI (@BCCI) July 24, 2015

    What we have now is a dedicated Kohli who leads a young Indian team in Tests, not just by the weight of his runs but the strength of his commitment on the field and high fitness standards.

    A recent incident showed how committed Kohli is to becoming the best player he can be. The India Test captain made a request to the selectors to play for the ‘A’ team against the Australians in an unofficial Test, which starts on Wednesday.

    Kohli was not part of the national team that travelled to Zimbabwe for the ODI and T20 series as he had been given rest by the selectors. In order to be fully prepared for next month’s Sri Lanka tour, his first full series in-charge of the Test team, Kohli sought permission to face a challenging team like the Aussies and that can only be beneficial for the skipper and also the youngsters in the ‘A’ team.

    Such incidents only go on to prove that Kohli’s attitude is right to not only excel as an individual at the top level, but also bring the best out of every cricketer who is playing alongside him. You can’t say the same about Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is the master of playing the waiting game and staying calm, but not the best person to unearth talent or push youngsters to raise their game.

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    When a youngster sees the national captain follow a strict fitness regime, throw himself around in the field or play for the ‘A’ team to prepare for a series, he will definitely look to give it his all just to keep up with the skipper. Under Dhoni, you could never have envisioned such a scenario.

    Granted, he inherited a ‘seasoned’ team but so preoccupied was he with the limited overs team, he never stressed on transforming the Test team into a dynamic outfit and we therefore saw incidents like the 2011 tour of England where half the team turned up jaded, unfit or just plain overweight. India were thoroughly thrashed but Dhoni didn’t mend his ways, which set the ball rolling as far as his captaincy days were concerned.

    Dhoni recently retired from Test cricket and has been replaced by Kohli as captain in the longer format. But it has emerged that the Indian selectors were keen to sack him three years back and appoint Kohli as the leader, so impressed they were with the young batsman’s attitude and uninspired by the wicketkeeper’s reactive demeanour.

    Whatever results the Indian team achieves from here, one thing is certain – under Kohli the players will try to succeed the right way. And it’s not only Kohli; even the attitude of Cheteshwar Pujara shows that the current bunch of cricketers has its priorities sorted.

    The Saurashtra batsman was not picked by any franchise during the auction for this year’s Indian Premier League. So instead of going on an extended vacation, Pujara went and signed up with county side Yorkshire. He scored a century against Hampshire and seems to have his confidence back. He scored 55 and 42 against an Australian ‘A’ team and is now set to travel to Sri Lanka after losing the confidence of the selectors in previous tours.

    Players must deliver results but it’s equally important to be seen doing the right things. Kohli and Pujara have shown there is a process which needs to be followed in international cricket. Results generally fall into place in time.

    Malinga’s fall
    Speaking about following the right process, Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga seems to have chosen the wrong path. His below par performance in the ODI series against Pakistan, which the Lankans lost, put the spotlight on his fitness level.

    Former bowling coach Chaminda Vaas stated in no uncertain terms that he was unfit. What didn’t help Malinga’s cause was a picture of him that was taken during training, which showed his bulging waistline.

    It was embarrassing to see a fast bowler with a paunch and brought back memories of India quick Zaheer Khan turning up for a full tour of England in 2011 barely able to fit into his gear. It came as no surprise when Malinga was dropped from the fifth and final match of the series against Pakistan.

    International players need to show some respect to their profession and the Lankan quick will hopefully not take things for granted again.

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