Veteran Punjabi film actor Nirmal Rishi receives Padma Shri
New Delhi: India’s Test captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday said his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni has left behind a wonderful legacy in the longest format of the game.
Dhoni retired after the third Test in Melbourne of a four-match series. Australia won the series 2-0 but Kohli was one of the most prominent performers of the series, scoring runs and leading the team with an aggressive intent.
“I don’t know why people say he has not left a legacy. He is the most successful Indian captain ever. That in itself is a legacy. Most of the players in the team have been given ample opportunities by him. He believes in the youngsters. He believes in giving them opportunities,” Kohli was quoted as saying by a reputed cricket website.
The 26-year-old added Dhoni has contributed immensely to the Indian team and it will be hard for anyone to repeat his achievements.
“If you see the pattern he follows, he always likes to play the same XI for a while because he wants them to feel comfortable and naturally grow as cricketers.
“It is just a lovely transition and transformation that he follows, where he lets people play and then he lets the guys who are not playing get a chance in another series and gradually groom them along the way as we go ahead in our career,” he said.
“He has played a massive role in grooming all of us initially in our careers. It is very hard to better or improve on what he has done for Indian cricket.
“It is amazing how composed he was leading the seniors during his early years of captaincy and how relaxed he is leading the youngsters. He has never been too assertive or shown authority on youngsters.
“He has understood what it takes to balance both – the guys who played before us and people who are playing in the team now – and that is a wonderful thing to do as a captain,” concluded Kohli.
