One of the finest captains that India ever produced—Virat Kohli—created a talking point for many fans and experts when he stepped down as the captain of the Indian cricket team in the Test format. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar questioned if Kohli could have continued being Test captain for a longer period. Let’s go ahead and learn more about Kohli’s departure and what this means in the context of Indian cricket.
Virat Kohli’s Influence as a Test Captain
Virat Kohli’s tenure as India’s Test captain witnessed a certain number of historic feats. As captain, he managed to lead the country to its very first Test series win on Australian soil in 2018–19. Sanjay Bangar, who has seen Kohli’s development from close quarters since he was a young boy, believes he could have stretched his stint as Test captain a little longer. He agrees that the job of a captain involves a lot more than being designated leader on-field, as he also has to run the selection and performance gears back at the ranch.
Bangar said that the job of a Test captain is very demanding. It requires daily assessment of team dynamics, selection, and performance management. Cumulatively, this much pressure can have a harsh impact on a player’s performance. So, these very reasons led Virat Kohli to step down to relieve himself of his responsibilities.
Virat Kohli’s Performance and Captaincy
In Kohli’s captaincy, he was known for his aggressive passion and drive. His hallmark of captaincy has been the ability to score big. But then again, every good player goes through rough patches. Bangar mentions the extreme pressures of captaincy as a reason for Kohli’s inability to consistently be in extraordinary form.
Bangar reflects on the time when Kohli had stopped scoring double hundreds, which he was accustomed to. He openly agreed to his decline and made changes in his game. Because of his flexibility, in a single season, he could score multiple double-hundreds, and that shows his toughness and determination. In January 2022, he stepped down as captain of the Test team after losing the Test series to South Africa. A significant chapter of Indian cricket had ended.
Sanjay Bangar’s Thoughts
Bangar underlines his strong belief that Virat Kohli should have been allowed to continue as the captain. He says that while the pressures were immense, the way Kohli conducted himself and performed throughout suggested that he could have had a lot more to offer as captain.
Despite his resignation, his captaincy continued to hold enormous value. In 68 Test matches, he registered 40 victories, making him one of the most successful Test captains from India. Very few legends were above him in this aspect, such as Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh.
Sanjay Bangar‘s insights into Virat Kohli’s Test captaincy open up some really interesting debates on leadership and performance in cricket. While immense achievements are tied to Kohli’s reign as captain, the pressures of the role are seen. As cricket fans and experts continue to ponder the impression of Kohli, it is obvious that his tenure, however well-led, as captain of the test came to an unpredicted abrupt end.
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