India lost the ICC World Test Championship Final against New Zealand by 8-wickets at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. This is India’s second loss in the finals of ICC tournaments under the leadership of Virat Kohli.
The Indian skipper is yet to win an ICC tournament as the leader of the team. According to former Pakistan Batsman Salman Butt, Rohit Sharma is a better captain than Virat Kohli. In an interaction on his Youtube Channel, Salman Butt said:
“Personally, I feel Rohit Sharma is a better captain (than Virat Kohli). I had observed his captaincy in-depth during the Asia Cup (2018). The way he operated as stand-in captain, he looked very natural. Coming back to Virat Kohli, India were on top for five years but sadly couldn’t win the biggest match of all, so people are bound to raise questions.”
Nasser Hussain (in Star Sports) said "Virat Kohli will end as the greatest Test captain of the 21st century".
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 22, 2021
There have been several questions regarding Kohli’s leadership style. Salman Butt admits luck matters a little in ICC events but history only remembers captains with ICC titles.
“You can be a very good captain but if you don’t win any title, masses won’t remember you. Maybe you are a good captain and have good plans but your bowler may not be able to execute it. So luck has to be on your side as well. People only remember those who win tournaments. Sometimes you may not be a great captain but your team may be very good and you may end up winning a major title. So that does not define a captain but for the world, of course, a good captain is one who has won big events,” Salman Butt added.
Leaders should be calm and Subtle, not fierce: Salman Butt
The former Pakistan skipper, Salman Butt also states that Virat Kohli’s aggression is sometimes misinterpreted, especially when India loses. He also added that leaders should be calm and subtle in nature.
“Virat Kohli has not won any ICC title neither has he won the IPL. He is a top-class cricketer, has excellent body language and is aggressive. His energy level is at a different level, and it is evident that he wants to give his best every time he steps out in the middle.
The wait continues for Virat Kohli as a captain.💔#Cricket #WTCFinal #INDvNZ #CricTracker #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/gM60PoRchi
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 23, 2021
But captains should be subtle and not fiery. We kept hearing during the WTC final, that it is a battle between fire (Virat Kohli) and ice (Kane Williamson). Most top-class captains who have won titles were cool or gesture-less at crunch moments. Virat Kohli is a man full of gestures. Had he won, he would have been praised no end,” Slaman Butt signed off.
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