Bowling Coach Bharat Arun Backs Virat Kohli To Continue As The Skipper Of Team India Amidst The Calls For Captaincy Change

India’s bowling coach, Bharat Arun has slammed the critics who are calling for Ajinkya Rahane to replace Virat Kohli as a Test captain. These calls have come in reaction to Rahane leading the Indian team to a series victory in Australia.

Virat Kohli left the Australia tour after the Adelaide Test in which India was bowled out for 36 – however, he was already scheduled for that in order to attend the birth of his child, and the result wouldn’t have had any effect on his itinerary.

Ajinkya Rahane, Kohli’s deputy, took the charge and led an injury-riddled team to a historic series triumph on the Australian shores, keeping his unbeaten record as India Test captain intact. India has won 4 and drawn 1 Test under Rahane.

People have forgotten what Virat Kohli has done over the years: Bharat Arun

Bharat Arun lauds Ajinkya Rahane for the way he captained the team. However, the bowling coach is upset at people demanding Kohli’s axing as the captain. Arun points out that Kohli has a 70 per cent series win record as a Test skipper; under the Delhi-born India have won 33 Test, the most by any Indian captain, and lost 13, drawing 10 – India has not lost a single Test series at home under the charismatic leader.

“First thing, I would like to congratulate Ajinkya Rahane for the magnificent job he did in Australia. But to the people who are writing against Virat Kohli, I would just like to put up one stat for them. Out of the 20 series that he has captained, he has won 14 series for India. Which means the percentage of win record is over 70%,” Bharat Arun told Sports Today.

Bharat Arun, who played 2 Tests and 4 ODI for his national team, reminds everyone of the progress Indian cricket has made with Virat Kohli at the helm – from producing a cartel of fast bowlers, and improving fitness standards to winning Test series in Australia.

“People who tend to write about him have forgotten what he (Virat Kohli) has done over the years. What has Virat not done? The fitness culture he has brought into the team. Fast bowlers, fielding have all gone up under him,” the 58-year-old bowling coach added.

Virat Kohli is set to return to the eleven and lead the side against Joe Root’s England in a 4-match Test series which commences on 5th February.

Also Read: Watch: Joe Root Sledges And Asks Dinesh Chandimal To Throw Away His Wicket, The Latter Obliges On The Very Next Ball