New Delhi: There was a lot of lot of debate when Virat Kohli was appointed deputy to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, superseding his Delhi seniors Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, and the debate continues with Gambhir doing an excellent job with Kolkata Knight Riders, which emerged as a winner in IPL Season V under the southpaw. A lot is being speculated where people are talking about separate skippers for Tests and ODIS with MS getting to lead in the shorter formats while Gambhir taking over as the skipper of Indian Test team.

However, Virat considers this as a non-issue, as according to the vice-captain, Dhoni is doing a commendable job. He also had a strong opinion on Gambhir being termed just good enough to lead a Test side. According to Kohli, Gautam Gambhir is a fantastic player who can mould himself, depending upon the situation. Kohli said that Gambhir was a player who was equally good in all formats and can lead the team in all formats of the game.

“Gautam Gambhir is a player who can mould himself according to the situation. Why is he only good to be a Test captaincy? His records in other formats are equally good. He has shown his leadership qualities in T20 in IPL-5. He is a great player in any format of the game. But then I am not to decide on the selection matter or on the captaincy issue. It’s for the selectors to take a call on that,” said Kohli on being asked if Gambhir should be handed over the Test captaincy.

On being asked about the captaincy issued being highlighted in the media, Virat Kohli wondered if it was an issue at all and said he wasn’t the right person to speak on that. “It is the selectors who will decide that and I don’t want to speak about it. If you ask me, it is no issue at all. As per MS Dhoni, he has been a fantastic captain till now. He is one of the best captains that India has ever produced. He has achieved almost everything and his record as a skipper is incomparable. I seriously do not understand why people are questioning him as a captain. According to me, he hasn’t done much wrong since the time he took over as India’s captain,” said Virat, adding that he looks up to Dhoni for advice on the field.

“I always look up to MS whenever I need any advice. He is a great guy and helps everyone. It has been very good for me that I have played so much under his captaincy, as I have learned a lot from him. He is Captain Cool and has a lot to offer to other players like me,” said Kohli during the unveiling of his new ad campaign with Sangam Suitings.

Kohli also made light of the issue being made of the BCCI-Sports Ministry spat that messed up the cricketers’ chances of getting the Arjuna award, the Indian vice-captain, however, said on Thursday that if anyone who deserves the award the most in Team India, it is Yuvraj Singh.

“Yuvraj deserves the award most,” said Kohli, adding that as of him, he has never played his cricket in lure for records, awards or rankings.

“I have never played for records, rankings or awards. In fact I wasn’t aware of whatever has happened between the BCCI and Sports Ministry. I am quite happy with my present career and the way it is moving forward,” said Kohli.

Talking about his bond with Yuvraj, Virat said, “He is one person who I look forward to for advice. I talk to him on a regular basis. He is an experienced player and has played so much of international cricket. He always thinks good for his team-mates. Everybody is praying for his swift comeback into the team.”

On being asked to choose his favourite amongst Tests, ODIs & T20s, Kohli said that it has to be Test cricket any day. “It has to be Test matches. That’s the ultimate thing for a cricket player. Though I prefer all formats, playing in Test gives you the ultimate high. I used to hear that until I experienced it in Australia,” he said.

Virat Kohli, who boosts of a record which is better than that of legendary Sachin Tendulkar in his initial years, and is touted as the man who might cross the Master Blaster’s milestone of scoring 100 hundreds, however, was quite modest when he said that reaching ton of tons was a tough job and nobody could ever break that record, at least in the near future.

“I might have scored more hundreds than what Sachin scored at that initial stage of his career, but we all know scoring 100 hundreds is something which is a huge task. I don’t think anyone can ever do that in the near future,” said Kohli.


By Indian Sports News Network