New Delhi: Virat Kohli now wants to take his career forward like the way Mahendra Singh Dhoni did. Virat Kohli has said one doesn’t need to be a captain of a team to be a leader. Since he is not the India skipper anymore, he might contribute more as the side’s batting mainstay and lead by example.
Kohli shocked the cricketing world earlier this month when he stepped down from Test captaincy. It came following the 1-2 series defeat in South Africa. However, Kohli ended up as India’s most successful Test captain. His unexpected decision came after he stepped down from the T20 side before being removed as ODI skipper.
During an event held recently, Kohli spoke how one can contribute to the team even when he is not its leader.
“Everything has a tenure and time period. You obviously have to be aware of that. People might say ‘what this guy has done’ but you know when you think of moving forward and achieving more, you feel like you have done your job,” Kohli said.
Also read: Virat Kohli steps down as Test captain
“Now as a batter may be you have more things to contribute to the team. You can make the team win more. So take pride in that. You don’t need to be a captain to be a leader. As simple as that,” asserted the former Indian skipper.
Kohli had taken over captaincy from Dhoni, first in Tests and then in white ball cricket. “When Dhoni was in the team it was not like that he was not a leader. He was still the guy we were going to constantly to get inputs,” Kohli informed.
“… But for him to understand that yes it is natural progression and a natural time for me to take over and take Indian cricket forward to a level that I wanted to and as long as I feel that I have done that job without having materialistic goals, that has a longer lasting effect,” Kohli added.
Kohli also talked about the timing of moving on. Rohit Sharma has taken over from him as the white ball captain while the board is yet to announce his successor in the five-day format.
“Taking the decision to move on is also part of leadership to understand the right time to do it. To understand that may be the environment needs a different direction. Obviously same culture but a different set of ideas to boost people in a different way and contribute in a different manner,” Kohli pointed out.
“One has to embrace all kinds of roles and responsibilities. I have played under MS (Dhoni) as a player. I have also been the captain of the team for a long time, my mind set has been same. I always thought like a captain even when I was a player. I want to make the team win. I have to be my own leader,” Kohli signed off.