Virat Kohli is known for maintaining his aggression and attacking on the field, as for Ajinkya Rahane, he maintains calm and composure with his techniques, tactics and strategy on the field. During the IPL matches and domestic tournaments, we have already witnessed how these players react and respond to the corresponding situations on the field.
Dutifully conducting their roles and responsibilities, players and skippers of a team always give preference to the team’s interests and objectives. The team is artful in the craft of recognising the effective strength and potential of all team members and encourages them to chip in with their contributions. Had Rahane desisted from placing his faith in youngsters such as Mohammad Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shubhman Gill, Natarajan and Rishabh Pant, then Brisbane would have become a different ball game altogether. India’s historic win over Brisbane might never have become a lived reality for these players.
Rahane succeeded in resetting and reshuffling the characters as per their performance, but how does it at all symbolise Virat’s lack of ability in reading the game and comprehending likewise? Aren’t we familiar with the fact that players including Jadeja, Shami, Umesh Yadav and Bumrah had to back themselves out of the series after sustaining blows and bruises in this series? Leading a relatively inexperienced side was quite herculean a task for Rahane, especially after Kohli’s departure from this series.
But then, Rahane didn’t look back. He bounced back with whatever little was in their possession. Does it, in any way, make Kohli incompetent and misfit for holding captaincy? Maybe, aiding Kohli in playing his natural game in this regard, Kohli will be the best guide in taking his call for a suggestion or two from Ravi Shastri. Shastri had assisted Dhoni in taking his call after which he stepped down as skipper of the Indian test team, later retiring from all formats of the game.
Kohli would like to offer his services as there is a lot of cricket left in him inspiring those who would want to connect with this gentleman’s game in the best of their capacities. Pundits should stop drawing parallels; as for the suitability and survival of modern day cricket, it is important to blend aggression with calmness and composure. Let Kohli and Rahane co-exist harmoniously as team mates, apart from being competitors.