Adil Rashid, an England spinner, recently compared the leadership styles of current India Test captain Shubman Gill and former captain Virat Kohli ahead of the third Test between England and India. At the legendary Lord’s, the third Test of the five-match series is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 10.
Virat Kohli was discussed on the Beard Before Wicket podcast as a leader who expressed his feelings on the field, whilst Shubman Gill did not. Given that Gill is still in the early stages of his tenure as India captain, Adil Rashid believed that it might change based on future performances and outcomes.
“That could change on performances, depending on whether they win or lose. It is still very early. If he goes through a bad patch that might change, in ways of how he deals with certain things. Kohli always, whether it was first or till the end, that passion he always had. Fiery, he had that thing. That’s how some characters are. Kohli’s character was that. He got the best out of the team. Shubman will be interesting to see how he goes,” Adil said on the ‘Beard Before Wicket’ Podcast. (7:53)
Shubman Gill lost his debut as captain in India’s inaugural Test against England in Leeds, losing by five wickets. But he and the Indian squad came back strong in the second Test, winning by 336 runs and tying the series at one.
“They dominated world cricket because he molded the team in his image” – Dawid Malan on Virat Kohli’s captaincy
In the same chat, England batsman Dawid Malan said that Virat Kohli gained everyone’s respect as captain despite displaying his emotions. He gave the former Indian captain credit for India’s dominance in world cricket and praised him for his leadership.
“Kohli earned the respect from everyone but he showed his emotions out. He wanted people to be in a fight and really into the game. The Indian team that he led under that era was phenomenal. They dominated world cricket because he molded the team in his image. So both ways work.”
Dawid Malan
Remarkably, Virat Kohli is the most successful Indian Test captain. In 68 matches, he guided the team to victory in 40 matches winning a percentage of 58.82 percent in the process. In a rather recent announcement, Kohli declared retirement as the Test player right before the tour of England.
