Here’s why Ravichandran Ashwin will be a better captain than Virat Kohli

Mumbai: Virat Kohli, who is pitted as the next Indian skipper after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, seems to be doing a great job as the current vice-captain of Team India in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup. Kohli’s stint has proven to be a vital one for the side but his captaincy can face a big challenge from none other than India’s leading spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin.

Virat Kohli was the first Indian batsman to score a century against Pakistan in the World Cup. (Photo: AP)

Kohli has shown signs of leading from the front when in December last year after taking over the reins from Dhoni in the Tests against Australia in Melbourne. He scored back-to-back centuries with a highest score of 169 in Melbourne.

Captaincy is not only about making the right decisions but also being immune to unnecessary criticism. The ability to tackle the media is as important as the skill to play the bouncer or make the right move. A captain who does not possess these abilities will only be left stranded in the middle.

Ravichandran Ashwin became only the second Indian spinner after S Venkataraghavan to bowl three maiden overs in a World Cup match. He achieved this feat against archrivals Pakistan in a high-pressure game. (Photo: AFP)

Kohli’s recent altercation with a journalist was something that Team India did not want specially with a stupendous winning streak backing them as they go into the quarterfinals, but in came in the timely intrusion and intelligence of Team Director Ravi Shastri without which this situation would have easily snowballed out of control. Thankfully, the Board of Control for Cricket in India subdued the issue without any further damage.

With MSD’s career unlikely to extend for long, it is important that India seeks a captain with sufficient emotional intelligence – someone as ‘cool’ as Dhoni.

Student of the game

Ravichandran Ashwin is one who studies his game and in turn acts accordingly. This statement has been echoed by numerous cricket veterans, the latest being former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.

Ashwin, who has worked for six years under Fleming (coach of Chennai Super Kings) has earned praises from the Kiwi legend due to his ‘work ethic and sincerity.’ Fleming also went on to say that the India’s prime performer is in a way a “cricket tragic, statistically motivated.”

Calm behaviour

Captaining India, one needs to be composed and yet aggressive in his approach. Ashwin possesses this quality more than Kohli. With cricket developing each day, the conduct off the field is as important as the manner on the field. With pressure always being your enemy it’s never an easy task captaining a side.

Watch: Virat Kohli is ‘Sher apne ghar ka’, taunts Pakistan cricketer

Anyone who takes up the job has to accept the fact that even his personal life will be under scrutiny. Ashwin, who is a traditionalist when compared to the more flamboyant Kohli can fit the slot as he is unlikely to generate any controversy.

Knows how to tackle the media

If there’s anyone who can match up to Dhoni’s skills of handling the media, then Ashwin is right up there. It was Ashwin who attended the first press conference post the Kohli incident. He handled tricky questions from the media with intelligence that many journalists were heard opining at the end of the interface that India needed a player like him to succeed Dhoni in the hot seat. Although he did differ with journalists on many occasions, he kept his stand and in a way was successful - a trait of a captain in the making?

Technology and on-field behaviour

Latest technology such as the spider cam has just brought the audience closer to the pitch. On-field behaviour plays a big role in reducing the pressure on the team and the player itself. Kohli has sometimes pushed his aggressiveness beyond the limit that sometimes can be uncontrollable. Television cameras, in most occasions, focus on the skipper of the team and hence expressions and responses need to be safeguarded.

In such a scenario, Kohli’s swearing will not help. It should be noted that in big events like the World Twenty20 Championship, Champions Trophy and World Cup, his performances have been outstanding.