Virat Kohli has been performed extremely well in the year 2017 as he concluded his year with 2818 international runs. These stats are easy to rank him at the top if India needs to do well in South Africa. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has high expectations from him as the big tour loops around the corner, who believes Kohli will score a lot of runs over there.

“I am sure Virat Kohli will lead from the front. He will score a lot of runs. The year 2018 is starting with a big challenge. The tour of South Africa will be India and Virat Kohli’s biggest challenge this year. If Virat manages to win the series, he will be the first Indian captain to do so,” said Sehwag.

“As a captain, you need to have a clear strategy in place in South Africa… how to get rid of their batsmen, how to handle their fast bowlers. It is important to implement them on the field,” he added.

“This team has the ability to implement the strategies well. All the individuals are capable of handling their responsibilities. I think if the bowlers are able to implement their plans against the South African batsmen, India will win the series.”

India will be playing overseas for most of the part in 2018, where they will tour Sri Lanka just after South Africa series. Post Indian Premier League, they will be touring England for two and half months. The year will conclude for India with a tour of Australia.

Thus, Viru feels that a tougher challenge awaits India in the foreign land. Also, he feels Kohli has to prove his worth in England to be the most successful batsman.

“As a batsman, Virat will face his biggest challenge in England and I think he is also looking forward to it. I am sure he will perform better this time. 2014 was his first tour to England and he was very young that time… he might not have been completely aware of the conditions there. But this time, he will go there as a player and as a captain. He will have that confidence in himself this time around. Before touring England, he will play in South Africa and in the IPL, so he will be more confident,” he concluded.