'Captain Virat Kohli added real competitiveness and toughness to Team India' - Alastair Cook

Former England captain Alastair Cook recently commended former India skipper Virat Kohli for his significant contribution to instilling a culture of relentless competitiveness within the Indian squad. Kohli’s tenure as the Test captain was marked by a remarkable display of determination, resilience, and unwavering commitment. However, his tenure as the Test captain ended at the back end of 2021 when he stepped down himself.

Under Virat Kohli’s leadership, the Indian team has exhibited a never-back-down attitude, showcasing an insatiable hunger for victory in every match they play. This ethos has been instrumental in their rise as one of the most formidable teams in world cricket across all formats at the moment.

Alastair Cook claims Kohli added toughness to the Indian team

Kohli’s constant push for success has inspired his teammates to push their limits and strive for greatness. He fostered a culture of competitiveness and self-belief within the Indian cricketing fraternity, something Alastair Cook highlighted as well.

“Virat Kohli as captain has added real competitiveness, hardness and toughness to Team India,” Alastair Cook said via TNT Sports. 

Virat Kohli’s record as a Test captain speaks volumes about his leadership prowess and his ability to lead by example. Since taking over the reins in 2014, Kohli has led India to numerous memorable victories, both at home and abroad. His astute captaincy saw him become the most successful red-ball captain the country has ever seen. It goes without saying he has played a pivotal role in India’s recent climbs to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

As the Test captain, the Delhi-born cricketer led team India in 68 games, winning 40, and losing 17 with 11 matches coming out as a draw. He had a win/loss ratio of 2.352. His name is up there with some of the legends of the game like Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, and Clive Lloyd.

While Smith stands as the most successful Test captain ever with 53 wins and 29 losses from 109 matches, Ponting won 48 and lost 16 from 77 matches, Steve Waugh finished with 41 wins and just 9 losses in 57 games as captain with an exceptional and best win-loss ratio of 4.555.

Another notable thing in Virat Kohli’s leadership is that India achieved historic triumphs in countries like Australia, South Africa, and England, traditionally considered daunting challenges for visiting teams. Though he could not help the Men in Blues land an ICC silverware as captain and for that people have indeed called him a failed captain.

His first major shot came in the 2017 Champions Trophy when India were defeated by Pakistan in the final. Then during the 2019 Cricket World Cup, India bowed out of the semis against New Zealand before losing to them in the WTC final in 2021 as well. The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE was the final nail in the coffin as his team crashed out from the group stages.

Virat Kohli to make his return through IPL 2024

Meanwhile, after opting out of the entire Test series against England, Virat Kohli is most likely to make his return to competitive cricket through IPL 2024 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. It will be an important tournament for him as he will look to gain positive momentum heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June.