Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has criticized Virat Kohli’s gestures towards New Zealand players. Gambhir justified his statement by claiming that the Indian captain lost his competitive edge during the series due to his ‘nice guys’ emotions.
Before the New Zealand tour, Kohli was asked by media personnel about whether there is any emotion of revenge inside him after the heart-breaking exit in the 2019 World Cup in England.
To which, Kohli commented, “Even if you want to think of revenge, these guys are so nice that you can’t get into that zone.”
However, by now, it is a known phenomenon that the Indian captain is at his best when ‘riled up’ by the opposition.
Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson during the Adelaide Test match in 2014, once hit Kohli on his follow-through, which enraged the Indian skipper. Kohli followed it up with a couple of tons in the same match, taking India almost to the cusp of victory.
“I am not sure if this part of Virat Kohli really works for him,” opined Gambhir in his column for TOI. Kohli, himself, is going through a lean patch, after failing to notch up a three-figure-score in international cricket in the last 20 innings.
“He is at his best when he is riled up when he has a contest. Revenge may be an exaggerated thought but I am not sure of ‘nice guys’ emotion either,” added the cricket-turned-commentator.
After being ruthless in the T20I series, the Indian team has lost its fourth consecutive match in the ongoing New Zealand tour.
“I think Kohli is wired up to be that emotionally charged sportsperson who can play a cover drive with the calmness of a sage and then lead his troops like an animated cheerleader,” concluded Gambhir.
