'Expectations were high after taking over from MS Dhoni' - Aaron Finch lauds Virat Kohli's captaincy

Australia’s limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch successful led the Kangaroos during a tumultuous period when the infamous ball-tampering incident had kept Steve Smith and David Warner away from the sport. Finch earned accolades by leading the Aussie side to victory in the 2019 ODI series, becoming the first side to beat India in India, since 2015.

The same goes with current Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who had to overcome an arduous task of filling the void left by MS Dhoni. However, Kohli lived up to the expectations and piled many captaincy records to his name. Under Kohli, India became the No.1 Test team in the ICC rankings in October 2016.

The Indian side remained at the opt until April 2020 before Australia took over the top spot. In 2019, the 31-year-old Kohli also became the first captain ever to guide the Indian team to its maiden Test series triumph Down Under.

Kohli also went on to guide the national side to a Champions Trophy final in 2017 and a World Cup semifinal in 2019. Under Kohli’s reign, India has won 39 ODIs out of 52. The prolific run-scorer has also led the national side to triumph in 33 Tests after he was named the skipper in the longest format in 2014, when Dhoni bid adieu to red-ball cricket.

Aaron Finch praised Kohli’s consistency across all formats

Finch acknowledged the pressure on Virat Kohli to lead India after Dhoni’s departure. The Aussie skipper lauded Kohli’s consistency across all formats and termed him as a ’rounded’ player.

“The pressure of playing for India is one but also leading India is another and the way he (Kohli) has done it, so consistently for a long time. Taking over from MS Dhoni, the leadership, that is huge. The expectations were high, and he kept delivering, and I think that that is the most impressive thing,” said Finch as quoted by The Times of India.

“What has been so impressive for so long is just his consistency across three formats. To be the best player of all-time in ODI cricket is one thing but then to also be in Test cricket and T20 cricket as a rounded player that is remarkable,” Finch concluded.