Interview: Virat Kohli's coach dismisses rumours of rift in the team

‘Dhoni is like an elder brother to Virat’

Rajkumar Sharma has been the guiding force for Virat Kohli ever since India’s current Test captain was a 9-year-old kid. Mr Sharma has been instrumental in Virat’s phenomenal rise from a child prodigy to being one of the best batsmen in the world at present. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, he talks about a range of topics concerning Virat.

Q. How do you look at Virat’s performance on overseas tours in last one-and-a-half-years? How much significance you give to performing overseas?

He did extremely well in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia but couldn’t come up trumps in England. Overall, I think his performance has been quite creditable. He scored runs on all kinds of pitches against some top bowlers. To hammer four hundreds in Australia against the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc is a great feat.It is extremely essential to do well overseas in order to be rated as a good batsman. Virat was determined to hit the straps on overseas and toiled diligently. Before each tour, I prepared pitches, keeping in mind the impending tour, at my Academy and Virat practiced tirelessly on those pitches. For Australia, I prepared bouncy wickets, while for England, slightly damp and seaming ones.

Q. In England, where do you think Virat went wrong?

England was an extremely disappointing tour, no doubt. Virat scored a hundred in the ODIs but in Tests, he failed to cut the mustard. I think he was bit unsure of his off-stump as he kept getting out in the same fashion. You must also give credit to the way James Anderson bowled to him. He used variations adroitly and got the better of him (Virat). But since then we have worked on this flaw and eradicated it.

Q. The general consensus is that while Virat is at ease on bouncy pitches, he is often found wanting on seaming pitches.

Virat has practiced on bouncy pitches since his childhood at the Academy so he is at complete ease on these kinds of surfaces. If you look at Virat’s ODI record in England, it is quite good. I am sure that in the time to come, he would also succeed in Tests in England.

Q. Virat’s Test record to date is stellar, but he is perceived as a better ODI batsman since he has already notched up more than 20 tons in the ODIs in a short career.

I have always maintained that Virat is a better Test batsman than an ODI batsman. I say this because of his penchant to bat on and notch up big hundreds. He blasted many big double hundreds in U-15 and U-17 cricket. He has a fantastic technique and robust temperament which are paramount to be a Test batsman of stature. I have always told him that I want him to excel in Test cricket, and he himself regards Test cricket as a true test of skills and character.

Q. Last time I interviewed you, you told me that Virat has the trappings to be the captain of Indian team one day. How do you rate him as a captain?

Virat has an astute cricketing brain. He thinks deeply about the game and is conversant with the finer nuances. He can rustle up strategies quickly and always has a follow-up plan. These qualities make him an ingenious tactician. He always leads from the front and is never afraid of taking on challenges.The only thing I feel he needs to change is that he expects a lot from his team-mates. He thinks that since he is capable of doing something, everyone else should follow the suit. He hates losing and is extremely passionate about cricket.

Q. A lot of people feel that Virat is too aggressive and demonstrative on the field. As a captain, shouldn’t he exude composure and sobriety?

I agree that a captain must be calm and composed on the field. Look, Virat is a naturally aggressive character as a person as well as a cricketer. He should not completely muzzle his personality. I believe he must show controlled aggression. Be aggressive in tactics and strategies. People often cite the example of how MS Dhoni is always cool and composed. But you must also respect the fact that Dhoni and Virat are two completely different individuals.

Q. After the recent ODI series defeat against Bangladesh, a lot of reports of rift in the Indian team are doing the rounds. A section of media has reported that Dhoni and Virat are engaged in a tussle for ODI captaincy.

Let me say it emphatically and categorically that Dhoni is the best captain India has ever produced. Virat has been lucky to be his deputy in a last couple of years. He has learned a lot from Dhoni. Dhoni is like an elder brother to Virat. They are extremely fond of each other. These media reports alleging rift in the team are completely untrue. There is no rift in the team and the atmosphere in the team is quite healthy. These rumours have surfaced because of a series defeat against Bangladesh.

Q. Do you it is the right time to hand over ODI captaincy to Virat so that he can groom the young team for the next World Cup?

Keeping in mind Dhoni’s enormous contribution to Indian cricket, I think the decision when to hand over the ODI captaincy to Virat must be left to Dhoni. At present, he is the best man to lead India in the ODIs. Virat still has a lot to learn from him.