Virat Kohli: Does he have the ability to lead India?

Kohli has the potential to check a very important box as he can lead from the front with his bat, and while nothing is as good as a wicket-keeper-captain who is in the visual all the time, a top-order batsman can make a big impact on the morale of the team.

Kohli spoke about the possibility of captaining India last year when he was having a dream run with the bat. He said, “I am not thinking about it (captaincy) right now. If and when it comes, I’ll be ready for it. As of now, I’d rather concentrate on my game. I love playing under pressure. In fact, if there’s no pressure then I’m not in the perfect zone. Frankly, I love taking responsibility. It brings out the best in me.”

He had asked for the pressure, and he has a lot of that on his plate right now.

Kohli has at least 2 years to learn the nuances of leadership under Dhoni if everything goes to plan

The two defeats will pull Kohli out of any feeling of complacency that he may have harboured lately. The same set of players that looked like world-beaters a week ago can crumble under the absence of leadership. Kohli must revisit some of the things he did at the U-19 World Cup, and while that was a totally different platform and nothing like international cricket, he can bring back the attitude of authority that he had at the event.

When a bowler is being given a hiding he often looks towards his leader, and Kohli must come up with the body language that suggests composure and encouragement. The fact that MS Dhoni is still present in that dressing room can be a double-edged sword. Dhoni will help him make the plans off the field and he can share his experience, but neither of that must deter Kohli from taking charge of the boys on the field.

An argument will often be raised about Kohli’s vulnerability to exhibiting emotions on the field but, in this author’s opinion, the 24-year-old has never crossed the line. While he might not be the ice-cool campaigner that Dhoni is, he has the potential to become a great leader in the mould of a Ricky Ponting or a Sourav Ganguly.

He has that enthusiasm for the game, the same appetite for success and importantly, he has time on his side. With MS Dhoni leading the side for another two years, he can learn the tricks of the trade and bulk up his batting resume so he can answer the call when it comes for real.