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New Delhi, April 18
Virat Kohli hasn’t forgotten the times when Mahendra Singh Dhoni firmly stood by him as captain and now that the roles have reversed, he himself is determined to support Dhoni.
Dhoni has been copping a lot of criticism over the past few months over his batting as his big-hitting ability seems to have suffered. “It’s unfortunate to see so many people going after him. For me, loyalty matters the most,” Kohli’s words showed his respect for his first international captain. “When I walked into the team he had the option of trying someone else after few games, although I grabbed my chances, but for me to get that kind of backing, it was very crucial for me. Also, he gave me an opportunity to bat at No. 3, not many youngsters get to play at No. 3.”
When an astute brain meets a superlative performer, there is bound to be lot of mutual admiration, and the Kohli-Dhoni relationship is no different. “It’s just about the field placements and bowling changes and we say ‘you know the angles, you know the pace of the pitch’, and that’s why there is so much of trust and respect between the two of us,” he said.
No peer
Kohli said that there is no equal of Dhoni when it comes to reading match situations. “He is one person who literally knows the game inside out. He understands the game from Ball No. 1 to Ball No. 300 (50 overs). I won’t say it’s a luxury to have him but I am fortunate to have a mind like that behind the stumps,” Kohli said.
It is Dhoni’s presence behind the stumps that has ensured that Kohli, one of the finest outfielders in the Indian team, can afford to field in the deep. “At the end of the day, I want to be involved in strategy with the team management, with Mahi bhai and Rohit,” he explained. “In the death overs, I know that I have to be in the outfield to try and make something work for the team because that’s my nature. I want to do something for the team rather than just be there. After 30-35 overs, he knows that I will be in the outfield and it’s on the auto mode.”
Happy with team
Kohli also expressed his happiness with the composition of the 15-strong Indian squad for the World Cup. “We are very happy with the 15 that we have. This is the most balanced side we could have thought of because everyone is in a good space,” the skipper said, without getting into the debate about the omission of Rishabh Pant and Ambati Rayudu from the 15.
He said a chilled out dressing room atmosphere with Dhoni and vice-captain Rohit Sharma has made it easy for the players to express themselves. “I think the whole management group, the way they have handled the entire group, it creates a good environment where everyone is relaxed. Our change room is like a living room, chilled out with everyone relaxed,” he said. “There is one goal and everyone is in sync with that goal.”
Always intense
While the World Cup now occupies his mind, he said he doesn’t need to press buttons for the tournament as his intensity remains the same. “In 2011, I was not involved in a lot of things, was not involved in a lot of meetings, the pressure that came along. At this point in time, it’s going to be different,” the captain said. “Even in 2015, I wasn’t involved to an extent where I had to be part of everything that was going on.”
“To understand the magnitude of a tournament like this from a captain’s point of view is a different ball game. I won’t say that I will look to do something different just because it’s a World Cup,” he added. — PTI
Let’s make this year count: Pandya to Rahul
New Delhi: Their TV reality show controversy now firmly behind them, Hardik Pandya urged KL Rahul to make the most of this year as both get ready for the ODI World Cup. Rahul and Pandya were both named in the World Cup squad, months after the pair were briefly suspended by BCCI for their sexist comments on a popular TV show. On Rahul’s 27th birthday, Pandya posted a picture with the opener on his Instagram account which read: “Brothers for life! No matter what! Love you bro KL Rahul happy birthday. Let’s make it our year.” — IANS
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