18th January 2022 – Even as the search for the next Indian test captain continues, Indian pacer Mohammad Siraj has posted an heartfelt message for the former Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
On Staurday the 15th of January, Indian cricketer Kohli surprised the entire cricket fraternity by stepping down as Indian test captain.
He had earlier relinquished his T20 captaincy in the previous year, while the BCCI removed him of his ODI captaincy to have one captain for white ball cricket.
Siraj, on the other hand who played under Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bangalore has thanked Kohli for trusting and maintaining belief in him over the years.
He added that Kohli will always be his captain, and that he cannot express how thankful he is for supporting and encouraging him.
He wrote, “To my superhero, I cannot be thankful enough for the support and encouragement I got from you. You have always been my guiding elder brother. Thank you for trusting me and believing in me for all these years. For seeing the good in me, even at my worst. You will always be my captain.”
It was under Kohli’s leadership that India reached greater heights in tests. The Indian team was already making history under MS Dhoni in white ball cricket, but was not seen as a formidable red ball side, as they were ranked 7th overall in Tests at the time Dhoni quit the game in the longest format of the game.
Kohli brought in the attitude of never backing down, the same attitude which helped the 90s Australian side to be the most feared side of the era. Kohli would go on to choose winning rather than drawing the match. This helped the Indian side to move up the ranks in the purest form of the game, and eventually staying as the 1st ranked side for more than four years.
Meanwhile, former legends of the game in India, are divided in their opinions on the next test captain. Sunil Gavaskar wants Rishabh Pant as the next skipper in hopes that it will give him a sense of responsibility, and eventually help him in upping his game. Dilip Vengsarkar, on the other hand wants the captaincy to be handed to either Rohit or Ashwin, until KL Rahul is groomed for the leadership role.
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