Former India all-rounder and ex-head coach Sanjay Bangar has compared Virat Kohli’s fiery personality to Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic “angry young man” image from Bollywood’s golden era. Bangar, who served as India’s interim head coach in 2017, said Kohli’s naturally aggressive, “in-your-face” approach was exactly what Indian cricket needed during a transitional phase after the retirement of several senior players.

Speaking to DD Sports, Bangar drew an interesting parallel between Kohli’s impact on Indian cricket and Bachchan’s influence on cinema in the 1970s.

“Virat Kohli has a natural character—brash, in your face—and that was always who he was. A natural character always resonates. Why did Amitabh Bachchan’s films work so well between 1975 and 1980? Because there was this thought of an angry young man, and in Indian society, that anger was simmering,” Sanjay Bangar explained.

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Bangar credited Kohli’s aggression and leadership style for revolutionising India’s Test cricket culture, saying he brought a new edge to the team’s image. “Indian cricket needed that aggression because our fabulous four had retired, and Kohli had to carry cricket forward, which he did in his own style. He completely changed India’s approach to Test cricket,” he said.

The numbers back Bangar’s assessment. Virat Kohli captained India in 68 Tests between 2014 and 2022, winning 40 matches, losing 17, and drawing 11—a remarkable win percentage of 58.82%. Under his leadership, India became the No. 1 ranked Test team in the world and achieved several historic overseas victories, including series wins in Australia.

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Kohli recently announced his retirement from T20Is after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph and stepped away from Test cricket ahead of the England series. However, he is expected to return to action in India’s upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia.