399 days! That’s been more than a year and it signifies the number of days team India took to register their first win on foreign soil, the last of which came against England in Lord’s in July 2014. This was also Kohli’s first as the Captain, after failing to win in his first four tests as a skipper. One could sense this win coming as the intent to win matches was shown previously too. The team previously failed to win two close matches, one in Adelaide and the other one in Galle. That loss must have affected him a lot as a captain. Having won six sessions and not winning the game surely hurts and that too when the team was in a clear position of strength. Nevertheless, as they say-“It’s better late than never”, the win at P Sara Oval will surely give him a lot of confidence as a skipper.
Australian great Adam Gilchrist praised Kohli as he compared his attacking mindset with that of the recently retired Michael Clarke. “I think his (Kohli) natural attacking style will help the team take on new frontiers (winning overseas and conquering final frontiers). He looks like the sort of guy who is prepared to take risks, certainly in his individual play,” Gilchrist told PTI during an interaction.
Kohli’s captaincy has been under scrutiny ever since he took up the role from a much cool-headed Dhoni. His attacking mindset was questioned by a few, but it was his ability to play positively and the hunger to win matches that helped the team to register its first win in a year.
Kohli is still young as a captain and as the time will progress he would only get better. Gilchrist feels the young skipper will learn the tricks of the captaincy trade with time. “With time, he will learn more about his style of leadership- whether he is prepared to take risks in winning or losing a match. He is a risk taker and I think that will make for positive cricket,”Gilchrist opined.
