They are saying that Virat Kohli’s captaincy has raised the level of the game for the team. Can they ever be wrong? Who are they? Certainly, not the troll-army, right? Certainly not those who cannot digest the success of a team that is beating everyone left, right, and center. So maybe, it makes sense to contend with the fact that it’s the purist, who sees the sport as it is, unblemished by ‘taking sides’, sticking to a universal view who’s echoed what is currently being felt.
Yet another day, and yet another gem from Virat Kohli. And this time, it’s not just the man’s bat alone that has made the news. Surely, Virat Kohli’s captaincy, a bit like his form is the new headlining material. While on the one hand, there can hardly be any doubt about someone who’s considered one of the best bat in across formats, what’s rather interesting – and applause worthy too- is that Virat Kohli’s captaincy that, in a short space of time, has already shone brightly.
And this is across formats, including the most draining classical form: the five-dayers!
But a few hours back, it became clear that the batsman whose remarkable knocks- such an integral part of the art of batsmanship- have made headlines added a new feather to a growing resume.
India under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, his first outing concening T20s in New Zealand, registered a thrilling Super-over win in the third contest. In the Indian inning, sparked by Rohit Sharma’s 65 off 40- Kohli also contributed with the bat, yet again.
The fierce right-hander contributed a very valuable 38 runs during a tough period for the India side especially in the middle overs, the visitors batting first.
But Kohli, who faced 27-balls- for his 38 marked a new achievement in his glittery career. Virat went past MS Dhoni’s record of scoring most T20 runs as the team’s captain.
Therefore, that’s where all the attention is. Under Virat Kohli’s own captaincy, where on the one hand India accomplished a special feat- clinching their very-first T20 international series win in New Zealand- Kohli, the batsman scaled yet another landmark.
Here’s the math associated with the special feat, yet another achievement that highlights Virat Kohli’s mark as a character, batsman, leader and force in world cricket.
As a captain, MS Dhoni has scored 1,112 T20 runs. But that was in the past. Kohli, who continued his fine touch ever since arriving in New Zealand, went past that mark and took only 37 innings as the leader of the men-in-blue to etch his name against the feat.
But that said, it is important to know who are the other talents in the game that have scored heavily as captains in a format where the pendulum changes perhaps with every dot ball, every six mounted on the 22 yards, and not merely with each passing over.
In the words of NDTV, “South African Faf du Plessis leads the chart with 1,273 runs and he is followed by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, who has 1,148 runs to his name as captain in shortest format.”
What’s rather interesting is that Williamson, who ended up on the losing side, despite a fantastic and inspiring knock of 95 off just 48 balls, is the very player who is often pitted against the Indian captain.
In fact, in the same game where, as a fan, you did feel for the losing side, Kane Williamson ended up registering what was clearly an emphatic feat. It was his T20 career-best knock of 95 off just 48 deliveries and that too, an intense run-chase that made the game interesting if not joyous for the Kiwi side (and fans).