Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli saw his side raced to a mammoth victory against the West Indies in the first Test of the two-match series. The win helped India get off to a strong start in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship and collect 60 points. With the second Test set to start on August 30, the onus lies on India to get the job done and end up with 120 points, besides sealing the Test series.
Notably, India has a 22-match winning streak against the Windies in Tests adding a feather in Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record. A victory in the second Test will see the number rise to 23. This is sheer dominance by the side against a team whose cricket hasn’t quite been on the mark.
When you look at India’s trajectory, since 2002-03, India has pocketed 13 Test wins against WI out of the 22 Tests. This could also be the fourth successive Test series win for India on Windies soil and Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record will be aiming to get the job done and get the desired boost ahead of the home series against South Africa.
The main focus in the second Test will be Kohli’s captaincy. From what team he selects and the changes ringed into how the side goes in and gets the job done will all be on the radar of his fans.
Kohli has been a fine leader of the Indian side and one should credit someone like MS Dhoni, who groomed him to get into the scheme of things.
Given Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record as captain, it’s safe to say that he is up there in terms of consistency. His success especially away from home makes things more interesting. Here we analyze why Kohli is perhaps India’s best skipper to have graced the field.
Kohli in line to get past MS Dhoni
The first Test win against Windies was Kohli’s 27th career Test win as the Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record. He equaled MS Dhoni’s tally of 27 wins and is just one victory away from becoming the most successful skipper of the Indian team.
Dhoni won 27 Tests for India in 60 matches. He had endured 18 losses and 15 draws as well. Kohli has managed India in 47 Tests and has a much significant tally. Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record reads he has 10 losses and 10 draws at a win percentage of 57.44.
Not just this. Kohli has won the most number of Tests matches away from home than both Dhoni and former Indian stalwart Sourav Ganguly. The 30-year-old has got his sides to bring in that level required to do well in the international format.
We all know what MSD did for Team India, but one can say, Dhoni was more suited to the limited-overs scheme of things. Kohli is well balanced and is much better in Test cricket. Under him, India is the number one side since a while now in the ICC Test Rankings.
Kohli has most away Test wins as Indian skipper
In fact, Kohli overtook Dada’s record recently of registering the most away wins by an Indian skipper. Dada managed India in 49 Tests and won 21 matches. He had 13 losses and 15 draws. Although, Ganguly will forever be remembered as a pioneer of Indian cricket. He took over the reins at a difficult time and helped India taste success abroad.
On the other hand, Kohli has been top-notch and he has extended India’s run of winning pivotal matches in SENA. Under Kohli’s leadership, the most pivotal win came in Australia in 2018-19. Besides that, he also won a Test in South Africa and England. The characteristics of leading a side well and getting the best out of the players are strong attributes. Kohli has donned the role well.
Even Ganguly has mentioned a few times that Kohli is way better than him as a leader. Those are encouraging words. Kohli’s main task will be to do well in New Zealand in February 2020. This could add a new feather to his illustrious cap as a captain.
What makes Kohli different than the rest?
What makes him different from his predecessors is that Kohli has scored runs aplenty and has been the most successful batsman over the last few years. This makes him a class above the rest. To lead the side from the front and take that burden of setting an example is a class attribute.
Kohli, who has 25 Test centuries, has always come forward and got the team rally. He never shies away with the bat and is a consistent force across formats. In recent years, he is also the highest run-scorer in Tests in a calendar year. This is extraordinary stuff from the Indian skipper.
For now, Kohli will be eyeing a Test series win against the West Indies in order to prepare for the South Africa series.
India has a strong chance to set the tone in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. Kohli’s main prowess as a leader will come into force if he is able to get the side finish in top two in 2021. Winning the event will make him a real deal in the platform of great leaders.
One feels that he has all the ingredients to come good and lead the side with a lot of success.