Virat Kohli recently stepped down from the Test captaincy following India’s 1-2 series loss to South Africa. At 33 years old, Kohli has been one of the most successful Indian Test captains, boasting a strong win rate. With Kohli no longer leading the Test team, selectors will now seek his successor for the longest format of the game. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant are considered the leading candidates for the role.
Despite Kohli’s success in Test cricket, he was unable to secure an ICC trophy during his tenure as captain. In contrast, MS Dhoni led India to three ICC titles during his captaincy.
Sanjay Manjrekar has commented on this, noting that he assesses captains based on their performance in international and ICC events, and regards MS Dhoni as one of India’s greatest leaders.
“MS Dhoni is clearly one of India’s greatest captains. I judge captains based on international cricket and ICC events because that’s when they are truly tested. Bilateral series are less pressure-filled; it’s the ICC events where Dhoni’s leadership shone,” Manjrekar told News18.
Manjrekar acknowledged Kohli’s leadership qualities and his ability to inspire the team, despite the lack of ICC titles under his captaincy. He highlighted Kohli’s determination and the impact he had on the team’s morale.
“Kohli led by example and maintained a never-say-die attitude, even in challenging conditions like the Wanderers Test match. Despite India’s 2-0 series loss, Kohli’s leadership kept the team’s spirits high,” Manjrekar explained.
He also noted Kohli’s resilience in the World Test Championship final, where India fought until the end, though ultimately the results were not in their favor.
Manjrekar further praised former captains Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar, recognizing their significant contributions to Indian cricket.
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“When discussing all-time great captains, it’s essential to include Dhoni. Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, and Sunil Gavaskar all made their marks in different eras. Indian cricket has a rich history, and while Kohli has been a formidable captain, figures like Dhoni, Ganguly, and Gavaskar had a more profound impact,” Manjrekar concluded.