In a recent interview with the BCCI, Gautam Gambhir praised Virat Kohli for his leadership and transformation of Indian cricket after taking over the captaincy from MS Dhoni. Head coach Gambhir reflected on the challenges Kohli faced when he was handed the reins of the Indian Test team following Dhoni’s retirement from Test cricket in early 2015.
Kohli’s first match as Test captain came in December 2014 during the Adelaide Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with Dhoni missing out due to injury. Soon after, Kohli assumed the role full-time when Dhoni retired from Test cricket after a drawn match in Sydney. Over the next seven years, Kohli led India to unparalleled success, including 40 Test wins and five consecutive years as the top-ranked Test team. However, Gambhir emphasised that Kohli’s journey as captain wasn’t an easy one.
Taking over at the age of 25, Kohli recognized the need for a new generation to step up as legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virender Sehwag retired. Kohli, a former Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, embraced the challenge but often found himself searching for answers in the early stages of his leadership.
"What excited me about Test cricket when I became captain was the challenge," Kohli shared with Gambhir. "When Mahi bhai left and we had a young team, I had to figure out how to turn us into household names. I realised we needed a plan. We needed fast bowlers, batters who could play long innings, and a strategy to consistently score 350-400. The challenge energised me, and I was all in."
Gambhir, understanding Kohli’s mindset, acknowledged Kohli's role in revolutionising Indian cricket, particularly through the development of a formidable fast-bowling unit. Under Kohli’s captaincy and with the guidance of coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun, India built a world-class pace attack, featuring Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj. This bowling strength led to significant overseas victories, including back-to-back series wins in Australia.
"I understand what you went through," Gambhir told Kohli. "As a 24-25-year-old, you took on Test captaincy and brilliantly built a strong bowling unit. Winning Tests requires taking 20 wickets, and you made that a norm. Credit goes to you for not only recognizing the importance of bowlers, but also instilling the right attitude. I remember your knock in Adelaide; it was your first game as captain, and even though we were chasing 400, you still wanted to win. That mindset changed the culture of Indian cricket."
Gambhir praised Kohli for his aggressive approach and the winning mentality he brought to the team, which set a new standard for Indian cricket both at home and overseas.