3 Players who stepped up their game under Virat Kohli's captaincy

The six-year-long journey of MS Dhoni's Test captaincy came to an end on 30th December 2014, which was no less than a shock for Indian cricket enthusiasts as this call came unexpectedly.

The Ranchi cricketer whom some call the 'all-time best captain', some 'the coolest player' and some 'the best finisher' has been one of the successful skipper's for India in Test cricket. He had taken the job in 2008 by replacing Anil Kumble.

In 2017, when Kohli was already leading India in Test matches, Dhoni gave up the limited overs captaincy as well, handing Kohli all the three formats. However, Dhoni hasn't packed his boots yet as he recently captained India in the Asia Cup for the 200th time.

The captaincy is considered as one of the most crucial and toughest jobs in cricket as it takes some serious efforts in handling it well. Meanwhile, it is seen that under a particular captain several players grow while some fail as well.

Similarly, there have been some players who were a huge success during MSD's time while a few also stepped up their game since Kohli was made the captain.

In this piece, we have identified three of those players:

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#1 Kl Rahul

Rahul has played 13 ODIs and 19 T20Is, most of which came under Kohli's captaincy

The Bangalore based cricketer, Lokesh Rahul is quite a known name in Indian cricket these days, yet he wasn't in that limelight when MS Dhoni was the skipper.

The right-handed batsman who occasionally keeps the wickets made his Test debut in 2014 during India's tour to Australia. Thereafter he has appeared for India in 29 Tests and scored 1811 runs at an average of 38.53.

In limited overs cricket, he debuted under MS Dhoni against Zimbabwe in 2016 and went on to score an unbeaten hundred in the first match. However, later due to an on and off display of batting, he couldn't cement his place in the team.

Rahul has played 13 ODIs and 19 T20Is, most of which came under Kohli's captaincy. Even during the recent England tour, questions were raised over his inclusion in the team despite the continuous failures.

Though, Rahul was again named in India's Asia Cup squad, where he appeared in one match so far and scored 60 runs.

#2 Yuzvendra Chahal

The leg-spinner who is the only second bowler in T20I history to have taken a 6-wicket haul recently completed the 50-wicket mark in ODI cricket

India's limited overs specialist spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal first made an impression in the IPL. His consistent performances there helped him get a national call-up.

His maiden ODI for India came during the same 2016 Zimbabwe tour where Kl Rahul debuted. He went on to perform well in the series and later made a T20I debut as well in that tour.

Though with the spin duo of Ashwin, Jadeja having already sealed the spot in the team, Chahal had to wait in spite of the good maiden show. Nonetheless, as soon Virat Kohli came into the power, Chahal got a higher go on the back of his performances and is currently the important part of Indian limited overs team.

The leg-spinner who is the only second bowler in T20I history to have taken a 6-wicket haul recently completed the 50-wicket mark in ODI cricket.

#3 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep also is only the third Indian bowler to have taken a hat-trick in ODI cricket after Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev

Kuldeep Yadav- one of the fewest chinamen bowlers in the world today, recently became the second fastest Indian to take fifty wickets in ODI cricket after Ajit Agarkar. He completed the mark in 23 matches, which is quickest by an Indian spinner.

Unknown before 2017, Kuldeep soon after making his debut turned out to be India's wicket-taking option in ODIs as the 23-year-old averages 20 and bowls under the economy of 4.69. In T20Is as well, he has taken 24 wickets in 12 matches at an excellent average of 13.20.

Kuldeep also is only the third Indian bowler to have taken a hat-trick in ODI cricket after Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev. He has plenty of variations in his bowling and happens to be pretty lethal on slight turning tracks.

He debuted under Virat Kohli and is a crucial part of team India these days.