In game reading and tactical approach, Kohli still trails Dhoni, says former skipper’s childhood coach

Virat Kohli has fast emerged as the captain of India and is about to better MS Dhoni as the country’s successful captain in Tests. In the ODIs, too, though Kohli is yet to cover some distance to match Dhoni, his success rate of almost 74 per cent is much higher than that of his predecessor (59.52 per cent). Yet, the debate often takes place as to who is the better of the two as a leader and according to the Ranchi cricketer’s childhood coach Keshav Banerjee, his student fares better than the current captain in terms of leadership skills.

Dhoni is often called captain Kohli’s ‘third eye’ in the ODIs since his reading of the game as well as the advice for the bowlers often does wonder. The upcoming World Cup could see one final time of Kohli taking key inputs from the wicketkeeper-batsman at crucial junctures.

“In game reading and tactical approach, there is no one like Dhoni and Kohli also does not have that. So, Kohli can always fall back on Dhoni if he wants to take any advice. If Dhoni would not have been part of the Indian team, there would be nobody to help Kohli as he needs time as captain,” Banerjee was quoted as saying by Timesnownews.com at the launch of the summer camp at MS Dhoni Cricket Academy Clinic in Andul near Kolkata.

Kohli has kept on depending on Dhoni in limited overs

Dhoni gave up the Test captaincy and quit the longer format in 2014 and in early 2017, he was no more the skipper in the limited-over formats as well. Kohli took over in all the formats from him but kept on depending on the 37-year-old for his invaluable advice during games. The duo shares a rapport and mutual respect and while Kohli fields in the deep during the death overs, it is the veteran who makes the field adjustments and leads the bowlers.

Kohli kept on backing Dhoni even when he had a poor run with the bat in 2018 and it eventually paid off as he returned among the runs with a bang since the beginning of 2019.

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