The Virat Kohli era, it appears, has begun in Indian cricket. In leading a young Test team to a splendid 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka after losing the first Test, the enterprising captain has shown he has what it takes to bring India back from the Test wilderness. There is a distinctly dynamic look to his team now because it has a captain willing to play the game positively and risk defeat in looking for victories.
Kohli’s approach represents a refreshing change from his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s defensive tactics in a format which is still relevant from a cricket point of view as a major training ground for formats demanding greater immediacy. If India’s ODI captain reads the signs he might hasten his decision to hand over all the reins to his successor. Kohli is the quintessential modern cricketer prepared to do whatever is needed to make the popular game even more exciting and entertaining.
The skipper’s adventurous five-bowler policy helped shape his campaign on a tour to the island that has always proved difficult for India considering the regional undercurrents in matches against a new-look Sri Lankan team with the old and fierce resolve not to lost at home to India. Accused of keying up some of his players, like Ishant Sharma, into overtly aggressive ways, a relaxed Kohli was later to say that he would be learning from each mistake he makes. His strategy of goading his men to greater effort cannot willy-nilly be called a poor advertisement for the game. Kohli is the one for the long-term aim of Team India to excel at cricket.
