SA vs IND 2018: Michael Holding Believes Virat Kohli Will Become Calm as a Skipper

Windies pace veteran Michael Holding, who has been critical of Team India’ skipper Virat Kohli’s aggression has eventually further praised the efforts of batting mainstay in the seamer-friendly condition of South Africa.

During the recently concluded three-match Sunfoil Test series Kohli was the highest run-getter as the gruelling five-day competition concluded 2-1 in favour of South Africa after the splendid show at Wanderers by visiting bowlers saw Kohli evading the possible whitewash.

Moreover, the all-round show with the ball on a penultimate day in Johannesburg saw the Proteas were rattled at 177 after 131 for one which saw India clinched the third Test by 63 runs.

Holding’s comments over an overseas policy of Kohli:

Holding, who played 60 Test for Windies and went on to bag 249 scalps at an impressive average of 23.49 added Kohli and the management should maintain the cautious approach when it comes to the chop-and-change owing to the away conditions.

“You are playing in so many different conditions, in so many foreign countries, that you think that this pitch now suits this person or doesn’t suit someone else,” Holding opined.

So far, Kohli has picked the different team in 35 Tests which shows how the prominent face of the national side has expected from the teammates apart from the home conditions.

“It is unhealthy making so many changes,” Holding said.

Holding believes Kohli will change like Richards:

The 63-year-old Holding has been enjoying the commentary stint during ongoing South Africa, and India series remarked the 29-year-old modern-day batting icon could change like the veteran Sir Vivian Richards, who was aggressive when he represented the Caribbean national side.

“When I compare Virat to Vivian Richards, it is not just in the batting but captaincy as well,” Holding added.

Reiterating about the striking similarity between Richards and Kohli, Holding is further confident the batting star would learn a lot which according to him will mould him as a leader as well.

“He learnt to be a little bit calmer and then his team got calmer as well. It was similar with Viv. When he took over the captaincy, it was similar. And then he grew in the job. And then the results came,” Holding said of Richards.

So far Kohli has been witnessed wearing the heart on his sleeve and animated on the field as well when it comes to donning the national jersey.

“At the moment he is a young captain, who is just learning and understanding what it takes to be a captain. I think it should be a similar learning situation with Virat,” Holding asserted.

Holding, who has threatened the top-quality batters owing his sheer pace observed Kohli is emotionally involved and believes it could get threatened.

“He is a bit exuberant and very emotional. Sometimes he gets so emotional that it is intimidating not only for the opposition, but for his players as well,” Holding explained.

Rahane in the change room was a shocker for Holding:

Holding was also surprise when Ajinkya Rahane was benched for the first two Tests while stating the away record was enough for the right-handed batsman to get picked.

“His record overseas is too good. You have got to think of batsmen, when you see them play, what they will do on different surfaces,” Holding concluded.

Holding stated the poor home series against Sri Lanka was not enough to see Rahane getting replaced by Rohit Sharma in Cape Town and then in Centurion where Windies legend feels the 29-year-old Maharashtra-based professional could have done well for India.

Follow India’s tour of South Africa here: RSA Vs IND, 2018