Indian captain Virat Kohli is highly regarded as one of the finest and skilful cricketers of modern-day cricket. He has been a consistent performer with the willow and is the leading run-scorer in international cricket amongst active cricketers. In 416 games, Kohli has accumulated 21,901 runs at an outstanding average of 56.15 with 70 tons and 104 half-centuries.
Not only a top-quality batsman, but Kohli is also an inspirational leader of the team. In fact, one wouldn’t be wrong to say that the 31-year-old has proven to be an able successor to MS Dhoni. Kohli, who took over the captaincy from MSD a few years ago, has enjoyed a great relationship with the Ranchi-born cricketer. The trust between the two greats has always helped Team India, and one such instance was seen in a One-Day International against Bangladesh in 2015 where Kohli had to don the keeper’s gloves.
It happened in the 44th over of Bangladesh’s innings, when Dhoni had to go to the washroom, and he asked Kohli to keep wickets. Dhoni came back in the 45th over, and Kohli returned to his usual fielding position.
Recalling the same moment, Kohli was spotted on Mayank Agarwal’s chat show ‘Open Nets with Mayank’. The Karnataka-cricketer showed Kohli an image in which he was standing behind the wickets wearing gloves. Mayank then asked, “how did this happen?”. To which Kohli replied: “Try and ask Dhoni.”
“Kabhi Mahi bhai se puchiyo how did this happen (Try and ask Mahi Bhai as to how did this happen).He said ‘yaar do teen over just keep wickets (Mate, please keep wickets for a couple of overs)’. I was keeping wickets and also adjusting the field,” Kohli revealed.
Kohli hailed Dhoni and also expressed his fear of wicket-keeping.
“Then I understood he (Dhoni) has a lot on his plate when he is on the field because he has to focus on every ball and also adjust the field.
“The one problem was Umesh (Yadav) was bowling, and he was bowling gas. I thought naak pe lag jaegy ball (what if I get hit in the face) and I wanted to wear a helmet but then thought bohot beizati ho jaegy (it would be very humiliating),” the Delhi-born added.
In the same interview, Kohli further articulated that while playing a Test match, drew is never an option for his as he always looks to win every game.
“I would not compromise on wanting a result in any situation. Drawing a game for me should be the last, so if you tell me, you are chasing 300 on the last day in a Test match. I would tell the guys, let’s try and go for it. It’s 100-run a session, even if the first one gets you 80 with a loss of two wickets, then in the middle session two guys can take the responsibility of dominating the hour and then if you get 100 in that, then you get 120 in the last one.
“If you hold seven wickets in hand in the last session and 120 to get, think of an ODI game, you can easily try and do it,” concluded Kohli.
