Virat Kohli has led India to the number 1 test ranking in world cricket after their wins against New Zealand. Looking ahead at the home of India, where they will play 10 tests, we can safely assume that the number one ranking is here to stay for a while.
But the journey has not been easy and Captain Kohli should be credited with the plaudits for rallying a young team to the top.
He was pushed at the helm all of a sudden when Dhoni decided to call it a day in the longest form of the game. His decision took everyone by surprise but every adversity comes with an opportunity and Kohli has proved that saying.
There have been many reasons for the good start to Captain Kohli's leading career.
#1 A captain who leads from the front
It became clear in the very first test match of Kohli's career as skipper that he was not the one to back out of a challenge. Kohli has taken some decisions and backed it up with equal intent, like playing five bowlers to push for results.
The Delhi batsman batted at number 3 in a Test match in West Indies to prove a point about the flexibility of the team.
He also scored a double hundred batting at No. 4 a couple of Test matches earlier. Even the great Tendulkar had reservations about his batting position, but not Kohli. He is the best batsman in the team and his ability to soak up pressure has rubbed on to the team.
#2 A balanced side with good bench strength
The past Indian sides did not have the balance this Indian side has. When the team needs to play five bowlers, they have options. If the pitch has some grass like the Kolkata wicket, Kohli can turn to Bhuvaneshwar Kumar on the bench and if it looks as if it's going to spin, he can call on the bankable Amit Mishra.
When there is a need to play an extra batsman, Kohli has Rohit Sharma waiting in the wings.
India played with 3 different openers in three Test matches against New Zealand. Injuries are inevitable on the cricket field, but if the team has replacements ready, then the team can maintain the momentum, which is so crucial in today's game.
A side with such a bench strength will always be up for any challenge.
#3 Ashwin, the leader of the bowling attack and an all-rounder
Cricket is a team game but there are some individuals who are more responsible for the success of the team than the rest. Ashwin is at the peak of his powers at the moment and he is the go-to-guy for Kohli.
He is bowling as well as he has ever had and the numbers are just a testimony to the fact that the Chennai lad is the best in the business at the moment.
The Tamil Nadu player’s bowling was always bankable but it's his batting that has given the team the much-needed balance. His two centuries at precarious situations in West Indies further enhanced the fact that he is more than capable of handling the willow.
He has been the Man of the Series in the last 4 series that India has played and has got the number of opposition's best batsman in those series.
Ashwin dismissed AB de Villiers 3 times, Sangakkara 4 times and Williamson 4 times in India’s Test series’. He is a skipper's delight and Kohli has to thank Ashwin for his good start as skipper in the Test arena.
#4 Lower order contribution
Virat Kohli has made it clear time and again that the lower order contributions are essential for the Indian team. The 40-50 extra runs that the tailenders have made have got the Indian team out of trouble on numerous occasions in the past couple of years.
In the first two Tests of the recent India-New Zealand series, the lower order contributions got India out of jail in the first innings. The New Zealand team did all the hard work but were unable to get past the lower order.
Those extra runs made by the 8, 9, 10, 11 were crucial as the Indian team had crucial leads that made all the difference at the end.
#5 A young side
This Indian team is a young side which will play with each other for another 5 years at least and that gives the side a settled look.
The batting looks safe in the hands of Kohli, Pujara, Vijay, Rahul and the man of all seasons for India, Ajinkya Rahane.
The wicketkeeper, Wriddhiman Saha, has started to come into his own in the Test arena. The bowling has options for every pitch that is on offer.
When the team is young and has a settled look, it makes the job of a captain a lot easier as he has a few things to worry about and can focus on the other team's weaknesses rather than pondering upon his own team combination.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
