Team India skipper Virat Kohli aims to conquer several cricketing peaks, including uncharted ones. Aged 29, he has nine years of international cricket behind him and his eye firmly on several records, like the most international centuries, where’s he’s still behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. With 49 centuries in 17 Tests and 32 ODIs, and 15,631 international runs, he’s the only one who can realistically hope to pass Tendulkar’s 100 centuries (51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs). Driven by near obsession over fitness, Kohli will be the clear leader of Indian cricket for years to come, when he can be expected to be even more productive for a seasoned batsman.
As a willing captain in all formats, Kohli shoulders more responsibility than even Tendulkar at his peak in a 24-year career. It’s a zealous overdrive that has seen him draw some criticism for his demonstrativeness on the field and a tendency to wear his emotions on his sleeve, exulting in victory and angry in defeat. As skipper of the top-rated Test team, also second in ODI rankings with an equal number of points as South Africa now, Kohli may be driven by the need to excel to keep his team near the top. The results of the ongoing series against the visiting Kiwis have shown that Kohil’s Team India is not as good as made out by critics.
The captain’s greatest challenge will now be to make his young side worthy of a good tilt at the 2019 World Cup, that is still the most coveted trophy in cricket.
