Nasser Hussain, Virat Kohli, Monty Panesar, India
Virat Kohli punches in the air as he celebrate his teams victory. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Former India pacer, Vivek Razdan heaps praises on the changes Virat Kohli has brought in Indian cricket – from unleashing a cartel of fast bowlers and improving fitness standards to winning Test series in Australia and Sri Lanka, the Indian team has emerged as world-beaters in the current era.

However, Vivek Razdan reckons that the latest Test series victory in Australia and all the success Kohli has had is a result of a decade long process having its roots when MS Dhoni captained the side.

He says that under Kohli the Indian players are fearless and not intimidated by the grandeur of the occasion or the opponent – India won in Brisbane with several youngsters in the eleven and all of them stood up to the challenge at Australia’s fortress. The team has become a beast at home – India is yet to concede a Test series at home under Kohli; they have just lost a solitary match.

Virat Kohli, India, ICC World Test Championship Final
India. [Image Credits: BCCI]

“We always think about the destination and get happy with it. What we saw in Brisbane (versus Australia) wasn’t an overnight success. It’s a process in place for the past few years. It started under MS Dhoni, then Virat Kohli continued. Ajinkya Rahane may have led India to the win, but Kohli’s contribution was equal,” Vivek Razdan told Sportskeeda.

“Ever since Virat Kohli took charge, we saw a different Indian team. A side that’s fearless. We tend to overanalyze Kohli and knit pick aspects of his personality that we don’t like, but here is Kohli, the complete package. He is what he is, and ever since he took charge, the team has transformed,” he added.

Vivek Razdan lauds India’s batting coach to make the tail-enders better batsman

Vivek Razdan, who played 5 international matches for India, gives credit to the batting coach, Vikram Rathour for giving batting practice to the bowlers in the nets and acknowledging the importance of the runs by the tailenders – half-centuries from Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur India kept India in the Brisbane Test – something which wasn’t considered in his time.

Vivek Razdan
Vivek Razdan. Image-Twitter.

“In our times, the bowlers didn’t get batting practice. During India’s tour of Pakistan in 1989, Our first Test was in Karachi. Before a practice session, I carried my entire kitbag. A senior asked me why I was carrying such a big kitbag. I replied that it has my bat, pad, guards, and helmet.

“He told me that as a bowler, all I need are my spikes. There would be so many days that we wouldn’t practice any batting at all and still managed to get some runs in the big games. Coaches from that era were like – batsmen to bat and bowlers to bowl,” Vivek Razdan stated.

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