Virat Kohli - Can he make a difference as Test captain for Team India?

The debate has begun, hasn’t it? Post the ’8-0′ drubbing, there was a part of the Indian supporters and experts, who felt that MS Dhoni was rather fortunate to survive remaining the captain of the Test side.

It’s been two years since Team India under Dhoni got annihilated against Australia in early 2012 to complete a 0-8 drubbing, which seemed to be forgotten in the glory of what 2013 proved to be for Team India. But then came the litmus test of the tour of South Africa, where the Indians failed to live up to what was expected of them in the ODI series, and by the time the Test series began, there was hardly anyone, who put their money on Team India to even get back home without being humiliated. The story of the tour of New Zealand is best left unsaid, and is possibly the series that de-escalates Dhoni from being captain of the Indian Test team.

Hates to lose, and likes being the boss!

So, who’s the player in Team India, who’ll undoubtedly be the premier candidate to take over the reigns of Test captaincy from Dhoni? It has to be Virat Kohli, and for apparent reasons at that. He has established himself as one of the best batsman in world cricket and in the Indian side, has curbed his outrageous celebrations post his personal landmarks and opponent’s dismissals, seems to have got a lot more responsible than what he was 18 months back, so if and when he gets instated as the captain of the Test team, I’d believe that he would have a good amount of experience of international cricket behind him before being appointed as captain. But, what difference can Virat Kohli make as a Test captain for Team India?

I think, more than anything, it’s Kohli’s age and stage of his career that could make the difference. He’s just 24, and still has the exquisite exuberance about him on the field, and doesn’t back off from fighting fire with fire. Dhoni, during his initial phase as captain of Team India was aggressive, and there’s no denying that. But, as he has aged and captained Team India a lot more, he seems to have become a bit defensive in his tactics, and also lost the venom that he possessed prior to the 0-4 drubbing against England in their own den in July 2011.

I believe that with age comes a lot more fear and anxiety, and MS Dhoni would admit to that as well. Tendulkar’s batting wasn’t the same when he was 30, as compared to what he rendered at the age 25-29. Even Rahul Dravid failed to force the issue in the Oval Test match in 2007, when Team India was in no real jeopardy of surrendering their 1-0 lead in the series, which eventually proved to be the decisive margin as well.

Dhoni’s time is over, Team India needs a change

So, it’s not fair to say that Dhoni has lost his captaincy mojo and his trademark maneuvers that rose India up to the summit position in the ICC Test rankings, won Team India the 50-over World Cup title and Dhoni’s CV is a decorative one without a shadow of a doubt. But it’s a bit of fire and pugnaciousness that Virat Kohli could bring to Team India, which is most required at this moment in Indian cricket.

Moving on, a change in personnel can always refresh old traditions and a bit of fine-tuning, which could prove to be the decisive factor in the way Team India progress under Virat Kohli, if and when it becomes a reality. Because the players, who have been marshaled by MS Dhoni might have had a different thinking and responsibility to adapt to, and a change of captain could reverse the roles in the side, which naturally will enhance the performance levels of the players in the side. So it’s more a case of a different captain asking different things off his troops that will prove to be the real deal.

Experience maybe the best teacher, but it is sometimes better to come off as an unknown at the international level of the game. Kohli, as and when he takes over from Dhoni will remain an unknown commodity to start off with, and it’s that mystery, which could benefit Team India. Kohli won’t have a captaincy reputation to live up to, will certainly have the hunger to build his own kingdom, and everything that became stale with Dhoni at the helm could be thrown into the trash can for the good.

I certainly feel that Virat Kohli is due to get his chance to lead Team India, and he has the stuff to transform Team India’s overseas woes.

No disrespect to MS Dhoni, and we should decline to the fact that he hasn’t got the x-factor to mastermind a change in Team India’s ineptness to win abroad.

May the Kohli era begin!