MS Dhoni needs to be credited for backing Virat Kohli: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, reckons that MS Dhoni, who retired from Test cricket at the fag end of 2014, should be given enough credit for Virat Kohli’s growth at the highest level. After Dhoni stepped down following the Melbourne Test against Australia, Virat became the full-time skipper in the format. In the same year, Kohli had a disastrous tour of England.

In five Tests, he managed only 134 runs at 13.40. But as his career progressed, he kept garnering laurels. On Virat and his growth at the highest level, the Delhi-born Gambhir had a chat with retired cricketer VVS Laxman. The latter said that he found Kohli a motivated character when the then youngster made his Test debut in 2011.

Virat Kohli maintains high standards for himself: VVS Laxman

“Ya, definitely! That was the catalyst for the change we have seen in Virat Kohli, especially in Test match cricket. But I believe right from the first time I played with him in 2011 when he made his debut, he was always very driven,” Laxman was quoted as saying on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

“He came into the dressing and there were lot of seniors in the dressing room, always asking questions on how to improve his game, how to make sure that he coverts his talent and potential into performances,” he stated.

Laxman said that making a comeback after the horrendous tour of England was incredible from Virat’s viewpoint. Later in 2014, during the tour of Australia, he amassed 692 runs in four games with four centuries and a half-century. In the series, he ended as the second-highest run-scorer after Steve Smith.

“But that 2014 series was very important. It was a miserable series. But to come back in such a fashion like the way he did in all the 3 formats, performing consistently and winning matches for India, maintaining high standards for himself is just incredible. He went to Australia and made those centuries and even in South Africa,” Laxman added.

Kohli is currently India’s most successful Test skipper after he surpassed Dhoni’s tally of most victories by an Indian skipper in the 2019 Jamaica Test against the West Indies. He also has scored 7,240 Test runs with 27 tons to show for his efforts.