Virat Kohli: The King is here to stay

Never give up – An inch for an inch

Kkolkyam, Of Crows and Owls

Traditional enemies, the crows and the owls are at war. One of the crows pretends to be an outcast from his own group to gain entry into the rival owl group; he learns their secrets and vulnerabilities. He later summons his group of crows to set fire to all entrances to the cave where the owls live and the creatures suffocate to death.

“You can’t be serious, man. YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! That ball was on the line! Chalk flew up! It was clearly in! You guys are the absolute pits of the world…” The wildflower, John McEnroe who played with his heart on his sleeve, and his mind on his tongue, often treading on the edge of right and wrong. You can question the lack of the judgement and control, but what you cannot question is the intent and indomitable fire to win at any cost.

Playing hard and showing the world who you are in the heat of the moment makes one an endearing warrior. I have always found the calmness of MSD, the stone-walled intensity of Dravid and Steve Waugh, the casual “all-under-control boys” attitude of Azhar, to have their desired effect on the team.

However, there is an incomplete emotional connect with the viewer. Virat leaves nothing out there. His decision-making and combative conversations are as enthralling as Vladimir Putin going head on with any being in his way.

Virat is the master of run chases. He holds the bull by its horns and by god does he never let go. A century every six chases, far better than anyone else speaks volumes of his ability to sprint towards the target like a man possessed. I have seen it in Novak’s eyes, the desire to chase every ball like a rabid hungry dog running after a bone.

"Kohli is the next chosen one. He exudes the intensity of Dravid, the audacity of Sehwag and the extraordinary range of Tendulkar. That doesn't make him better, simply sui generis, his own unique kind."

— Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe on Kohli

As time goes by, his attitude will mature and exude an orderly fire, be rest assured you will know what is on his mind just by looking at his eyes. Such raw and real intensity cannot and should not be doused; you must let it burn so bright that the enemy sees it from a mile away.

Virat is the Novak of cricket. He eats right and treats his workouts very seriously. They prepare as if they are going into the boxing ring to fight a bull and then knock out mere mortals.

The hours of work put in behind the scenes makes it possible for these men to compete like beasts. It is an undeniable factor of results and the great performers are aware of the inches, the inches that allow them to cross the finish line.