Virat Kohli’s charisma and X-factor makes rest of the team follow him, says Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh has asserted that it is Virat Kohli’s charisma and X-factor that makes other players follow him, after he led India to thumping victories against the Proteas in the ODI and T20 series. Waugh also pointed out that Kohli’s aggression was a little over the top in the rainbow nation.
Virat Kohli led the Indian side to a record 5-1 win in the ODI series against South Africa as he became the first player to score 558 runs in a bilateral series. After seeing the overall performance put up by India, Steve Waugh has credited skipper Virat Kohli’s charisma and X-factor that saw the side dominate the series.
"He (Kohli) is leading very well right now. He has that charisma and that X-factor and so he wants all the rest of the team to follow him. He wants the team to play positively all the time and win as quickly as he can," said Steve Waugh, reported PTI
"They have got a very good win record in the last couple of years in all forms of the game. Virat has high aspirations for his team. He wants to be no.1 across all the formats, which is difficult to do these days," added the former Australian player.
Like always, Kohli was ever-present in the camera during this tour with his extra aggression, attitude, and excitement, whenever the Indian bowlers would break a threatening partnership or leak runs cheaply. The former Australia skipper believes that Kohli is still in a learning phase and would learn to control his emotions gradually.
"I have seen him in South Africa and I feel that he was little over the top. But that's a learning thing for a captain. Kohli needs to strike a balance given that not all players in his team are as expressive as he is. As a captain, he (Kohli) is still developing and needs some time to pull in his excitement factor and emotions but that's the way he plays.
"I think he just needs to get a bit aware that everyone on the side can't play in that fashion. Someone like (Ajinkya) Rahane and (Cheteshwar) Pujara are very calm and quiet guys so he needs to just understand that some players are different.At times he probably needs to tone his aggression down and at times he needs to lift it, so he needs to work it out what's right," said Waugh.
India
"Australia will be favourites in Australia because we have got such a great record, just like India in India. Virat (Kohli) would obviously be the key in Australia. He played amazing in Australia last time. India is a very confident young side and they are playing with great confidence and passion that their captain believes in. They believe they can win in Australia no doubt.
"To be fair, the pitches will suit India more than the past because the pitches are very benign at the moment. So they will definitely suit the Indian batsmen and the spinners will come into action more. So I think it would be a very competitive series," said the 52-year-old.
Waugh has also asserted that India, along with South Africa and Australia, will fight for the number one spot in Tests in the next couple of years.
"They are a very competitive side, they cover all positions well. So, I think India, South Africa, and Australia are right now three sides who are very similar in quality and they will fight it out for the No.1 position in the next couple of years," he said.
"He (Dhoni) is still a great player but he needs to have that energy and that spark which right now, he does have. But 12 months is still long, long