News
“Virat Kohli Leads The Team Similar To Viv Richards,” says Sanjay Manjrekar
By CricShots - Feb 9, 2021 1:07 pm
Views 54

Team India is chasing a humungous-looking target of 381 runs in 90 overs to win the first Test against England in Chennai on Day 5 and the players will be fancying the chances of chasing down the target on a deteriorating Chepauk wicket. On Day 4 of the match, India dismissed England for 178 in their 2nd innings but a massive 241-run 1st innings lead meant the visitors had virtually put an improbable target of 420 runs for Virat Kohli and his men to chase.

virat kohli
Virat Kohli leads the team from the front

Ahead of the final day, Ishant Sharma, who became the third Indian fast bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket on Monday, talking to cricketer-turned-commentator Dee Dasgupta and said that India are confident of gunning down 381 runs on the final day.

ALSO READ: England Bowling Coach Defends Their Tactics On Day 4 In Chennai

On the other hand, Sanjay Manjrekar, another former India cricketer has credited Virat Kohli for instilling belief in the Indian team. Virat handed the ball to Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl the first over of the first innings and replied with a wicket on a very first delivery.

Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar

Manjrekar compared Kohli’s captaincy to that of Viv Richards, the West Indies great who captained the West Indies Test team in 50 matches, winning 27 of them, losing just 8.

Talking about Virat Kohli and his captaincy, Sanjay Manjrekar said, “If you saw Virat Kohli’s reaction when they got that wicket just before Lunch, it shows how this Team India thinks. Especially with Virat Kohli at the helm. Tactically, people have issues with his captaincy, but this is where Virat Kohli is like Vivian Richards, where they are always hopeful. And when a captain believes that you can still make a match out of this one from the current situation.”

ALSO READ: DGCA Allows BCCI To Fly Drones To Get Aerial Pictures Of India Games

Kohli has captained India in 57 Tests (including the ongoing one) and won 33 of them, the most by any Indian captain.