Harbhajan Singh, the legendary Indian off-spinner, recently reflected on Virat Kohli’s impactful tenure as the captain of the Indian cricket team, highlighting several positives despite the lack of an ICC World Cup title under his leadership. Kohli captained India in 213 matches across all formats, leading the team to victory in 135 of them.

While MS Dhoni remains the only Indian captain with more wins, Virat Kohli’s legacy is celebrated for the hunger and fighting spirit he instilled in the squad, especially in Test cricket. Kohli’s leadership brought out an aggressive, never-say-die attitude in the team, particularly evident in India’s historic overseas Test victories.

Under his captaincy, India played 68 Tests and won 40, with notable triumphs in difficult conditions. One of the most remarkable achievements during his tenure was the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where India won the series 2-1, retaining the prestigious trophy on Australian soil.

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Virat Kohli led the side in the first Test, which India lost, but then returned home for paternity leave. Ajinkya Rahane stepped in as captain, guiding the team to a stunning comeback victory in the series. Harbhajan Singh pointed out that the fighting spirit displayed by India during that series, especially in the final Test at the Gabba, was a testament to Kohli’s influence.

The young guns, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, played pivotal roles in that famous win, chasing down a tough target with grit and determination. Harbhajan credited Kohli for instilling a belief in the team that no target was too high, and they should always fight until the end.

Speaking about Kohli’s leadership style, Harbhajan Singh said, “You may not have won a World Cup under Kohli’s captaincy, but that doesn’t make him a lesser captain or player. The fire he ignited in the team, the belief that we’ll chase down any target, is something extraordinary.” He emphasized how this attitude transformed the team’s mindset, making them fearless and aggressive, a hallmark of Kohli’s captaincy.

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Although Kohli’s recent form in the Test series against Bangladesh has not been up to his usual standards—scoring just 99 runs in four innings—he remains a key figure in India’s cricketing future. With three home Tests against New Zealand lined up, starting on October 16, Kohli will be eager to find his rhythm ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy next month.