India vs England 2021: Virat Kohli, Like MS Dhoni, Knows When To Leave Captaincy, Says Kiran More

Indian team’s 227-run defeat at the hands of England in the first Test in Chennai of the four-match series was the national cricket team’s fourth straight loss under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. This has led to more fire in the raging debate of whether Kohli should step down as captain and let Ajinkya Rahane take over in the longest format of the game.

However, former India stumper Kiran More feels that Virat Kohli, like his predecessor MS Dhoni, is a very smart person and knows when his time at the helm of the Indian cricket team is up and will gracefully step down from the position when the time is right.

Mumbaikar Ajinkya Rahane had led the Indian team in absence of Virat Kohli on the recent tour of Australia and helped the team stage a brilliant comeback after being bowled out for 36 runs- their lowest score in a Test innings in Adelaide. India went onto win the Melbourne Test match, earned a hard draw in Sydney, and then defeated Australia in Brisbane to pocket the series 2-1.

Virat Kohli is our no.1 player and he knows when its time to leave like MS Dhoni: Kiran More

Ever since Ajinkya Rahane led the Indian team to a brilliant 2-1 Test series win in Australia recently, in absence of Virat Kohli, the argument in his favor to become full-time captain has gained weight. However, former India wicketkeeper Kiran More backed Virat Kohli to continue leading the Indian team.

“Virat Kohli is our no.1 player. He’s the best. It’s too early to debate on the captaincy. Virat is known for his honesty. He’s a guy who knows when to go (from captaincy) just like MS Dhoni did. India did well in Australia this time. They did well there under Virat Kohli as well,” said Kiran More to Sportskeeda.com.

India had lost a home Test before this Chennai loss, to Australia in Pune in 2017. That was also the first match of the four-Test series, which India went on to win by a margin of 2-1.

Virat Kohli’s captaincy will be under pressure if India loses the next Test match: Kiran More

Kiran More said that Virat Kohli knows what has been going on under his captaincy. The Adelaide debacle was a huge one and India has now lost 4 consecutive Tests under his captaincy, which has put his leadership in question. However, he felt that if India loses the next Test, the side will be under tremendous pressure and there will be a debate over Virat Kohli’s captaincy.

“No captain doesn’t like to lose Tests. Having lost a few Tests (four in a row), there will be some pressure on Virat Kohli. He will definitely be thinking about it. For me, I wouldn’t think about the Indian captaincy at the moment. If we lose the next Test, there will be a lot of pressure on us. Then there can be the debate about the captaincy,” said Kiran More in an interview with Sportskeeda.com.

After the defeat in the first Test at the hands of England, India’s chances of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship final have taken a beating. From top position, India has now slipped to the fourth spot and now need to win the series by a margin of at least 2-1 for a chance to play New Zealand in the final at the Lord’s this June.

Also Read: India vs England 2021: Not Bothered About World Test Championship Table- Virat Kohli