IND vs WI: Virat Kohli Will Help The New Captain To Do The Right Thing: Irfan Pathan

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan said that Virat Kohli will assist Rohit Sharma in the leadership role.

After the conclusion of the South Africa Test series last month, Kohli relinquished captaincy duties from the red-ball format, which meant he was relieved from the leadership role.

As long as Virat Kohli is in the team, he is a leader: Irfan Pathan

Kohli holds the record for most Test wins (40) as India’s Test skipper, however, he never had the fortune to win an ICC title during his tenure even though he has distinctive achievements in overseas Test series.

India’s next white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma has also tasted some success with the India team, winning the Asia Cup and Nidahas Trophy in 2018.

Although Kohli won’t lead India anymore, Irfan Pathan believes that the Delhi player will still help the team in decision-making.

“He is not the captain, but as long as he is in the team, he is a leader. He will help the new captain to do the right thing,” Irfan Pathan said, as reported by The Hindu.

“He sent out the right messages and he took the team’s fitness to another level. Going forward, I am sure he will help out others, especially Rohit Sharma. Every captain contributes in a unique fashion. Kohli had his energy, Rohit will give you calmness,” he added.

Virat Kohli is not batting the way we know him to bat: Ajit Agarkar

Kohli’s long-awaited international hundred has been the talk of the town as he hasn’t scored in more than two years.

In the recent ODI series against Proteas, Kohli made a couple of half-centuries in the first and third match but once again failed to convert them into a three-figure mark.

Former Indian player Ajit Agarkar pointed out that Kohli is not playing like a match-winner like he used to play in earlier times. The former Indian pace bowler also mentioned that Rohit would expect Kohli to contribute in the leadership role as well.

“Rohit Sharma will definitely expect Virat Kohli also to play the leadership role because he has been the captain for such a long time. He has been on the hot seat and has been the best player of the team. In my opinion, at the moment Virat Kohli is not batting the way we know him to bat,” Agarkar said on Star Sports.

“That will be Rohit’s first expectation that Virat rediscovers his form because when he plays like that, he wins the match. The captain’s job becomes easier the more match-winners you have in the team,” he added.

India will play against West Indies in three ODI matches and as many T20 Internationals, the white-ball series starts with the first ODI on February 6 in Ahmedabad.

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