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SpORTS JANUARY 21, 2022 | The Indian Eye 44

After Virat Kohli who? Team haunted

by crisis as iconic Test captain quits

Kohli holds the record for most Test appearances as India Test captain (68) and he also holds the record

for most Test wins by an Indian captain (40). Only Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh have
won more matches than Kohli as captain in Test cricket

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
n a shocking move, Virat Kohli
announced last Saturday that he
Iwas stepping down as the captain
of the Indian Test team. Kohli’s de-
cision to leave Test captaincy came a
day after India lost the three-match
Test series against South Africa.
Virat Kohli’s biggest win in the
longest format came during 2018-
19 as India won its first Test series
Down Under. Under his captaincy,
India also reached the finals of the
World Test Championship (WTC).
It is also important to note that
India was almost unbeatable under
Kohli in home conditions. In the
four Tests that India played against
England in England last year, Kohli’s
side went on to take a 2-1 lead and
the last Test of the series will be
played later this year.

Kohli has the most Test wins at
home for India as captain. In-
dia’s victory against New Zea- Virat Kohli has been the most successful Test captain of India (ANI Photo)
land at the Wankhede Stadium

last year was Kohli’s 24th Test Ponting, and Steve Waugh have won has also shown great determination ing to a query during a virtual press
with the bat at the top of the order
more matches than Kohli as captain
conference.
win at home. Last year, Kohli in Test cricket. in overseas conditions but one thing When asked about when the
It is safe to say that Rohit Sharma
had stepped down as the T20I is the frontrunner to be the Test cap- with Rahul is that his batting can hit Team India members got to know
about Virat’s decision, Bumrah said:
a rough patch all of a sudden.
captain and then he was re- tain as he was named the vice-captain The team is missing him already. “We are close as a team unit, we got
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah
moved as the oDI leader as the for the South Africa Tests, but injury on Monday said that everybody in to know about his decision in a team
meeting that he will stand down
ruled him out and KL Rahul had to
selectors wanted one captain step in as the deputy. Over the past Team India respects Virat Kohli’s as the Test captain. We respect his
for the white-ball format. year, the right-handed batter showed decision to stand down as the Test decision; we value his leadership.
great grit and determination with the skipper. “See, I am not here to give We congratulated him for what he
bat and everyone knows about what a judgment on Virat’s decision to achieved as a leader of this side.”
With Kohli stepping down, it is he can bring as a captain. leave Test captaincy. It is a person- Virat Kohli’s childhood coach
safe to say that it is an end of an era, However, Rohit’s fitness has al decision; we respect his decision. Rajkumar Sharma feels the former
and now head coach Rahul Dravid been an issue and it needs to be seen He knows how his body is reacting skipper will focus more on his bat-
has much work to do in order to cre- whether the selectors want to give and what frame of mind he is in. I ting after stepping down as Team In-
ate a solid unit which can win on both a 34-year-old the reign of all three respect that, it has been an immense dia’s captain. “I hope that he plays
at home and overseas conditions. formats or do they want to look at pleasure to play under Virat Kohli, I the game without any pressure and
Kohli holds the record for most the future and think of a long-term made my Test debut under him. He enjoys the game as he always used to
Test appearances as India Test cap- prospect. The second option is KL brings a lot of energy to the side. He and I think we can see a new Virat
tain (68) and he also holds the record Rahul, who recently led Team India will always be a leader in the group Kohli enjoying his batting and scor-
for most Test wins by an Indian cap- in the second Test against South Af- and his contribution has always been ing a lot of runs for the country and
tain (40). Only Graeme Smith, Ricky rica in the absence of Kohli. Rahul immense,” said Bumrah while reply- Continued at next page... >>

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