'All I can try to do in the Test format is to learn more composure from his captaincy.'
'I have been noticing what he does in certain situations and that definitely helps because he is one of the finest captains in the sport.'
Star batsman Virat Kohli says India’s triumph in the 2007 World T20 tournament proved the catalyst in the team winning the 50-overs World Cup four years later.
“It was a proud feeling to know that India have lifted a World Cup after so many years. From there on that belief stuck with the team and we ended up winning the 50-overs World Cup in 2011.
"That was a major milestone as far as Indian cricket was concerned,” said Kohli, at the launch of the ICC World T20 2016, in Mumbai on Friday.
The groups and schedule for the tournament, which will be staged across eight venues in India from March 8 to April 3, was announced.
A total of 58 matches, including 35 men’s and 23 women’s, will be played in the 27-day tournament in Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur and New Delhi.
New Delhi and Mumbai will host the semi-finals on March 30 and 31 respectively, while Eden Gardens in Kolkata will be the venue for April 3 finals.
India’s Test captain also paid rich tribute to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had a memorable debut as captain by leading a young Indian side to the World T20 triumph in South Africa in 2007.
“It was virtually the launch of Mahendra Singh Dhoni the captain. The way he expressed his tactics on the field, the way he led a very young team on the world stage. Players like Rohit (Sharma), (Shantakumaran) Sreesanth… all these guys were new into the team and the way he led them on the world stage, making them believe that this can be done, was something that came through in that World Cup.
“From thereon, he became this big figure in terms of captaincy in world cricket. His captaincy was praised all over and he became the figure of recognition for Indian cricket all over.”
Kohli, 27, took over captaincy of the Test team from Dhoni after the latter retired from the longer format in December midway during the four-Test series in Australia.
The Delhi right-hander says one of the things he yearns to learn from ‘Captain Cool’ is Dhoni’s ability to stay calm in tense situations.
“All I can try to do in the Test format is to learn more composure from his captaincy and that is something I have felt I have started to do in the last couple of series. But his ability to not panic in pressure situations is something that I would definitely like to learn and pick up from him.
“I have been learning from close quarters, I have been vice-captain for a while. I have been noticing what he does in certain situations and that definitely helps because he is one of the finest captains in the sport,” he added.
