'As their captain in all three international formats, the versatile Virat Kohli deserves a lot of credit for creating this winning mentality.'
Australian great Ian Chappell lauded India captain Virat Kohli for being able to channelise his "highly emotional temperament" towards building a versatile team that has tasted plenty of overseas success.
On Sunday, India completed a rare 5-0 whitewash in limited-overs’ cricket when they beat New Zealand by seven runs in the fifth and final T20 International in Mount Maunganui, to continue their hot streak.
"When he first became captain, especially of the Test team, I thought his highly emotional temperament might be detrimental to his leadership. Instead, he has ensured his emotions work for him and not against the team," Chappell wrote, in ESPNcricinfo.
"This is in line with his clear-thinking approach to the game. To hear Kohli talk about batting, and particularly his rationale for eschewing the innovative short-form shots (he doesn't want them to corrupt his Test-match style), is to listen to a master who comprehends his craft."
He said India has become a "versatile" side under Kohli's captaincy, which has resulted in better overseas performances.
"Another feature of India's cricket under Kohli has been their consistency. Despite many changes to personnel in the three formats, they continue to win regularly. They have become a far more versatile side under Kohli and this has resulted in better overseas performances."
India comfortably lead the World Test Championship standings with seven consecutive victories, the last four by an innings. After coming off an ODI series victory over Australia at home, India won all their T20 games in New Zealand, and Chappell reserved a lot of credit for the skipper.
"As their captain in all three international formats, the versatile Virat Kohli deserves a lot of credit for creating this winning mentality. When a captain leads a side successfully on a regular basis, especially by occasionally plucking victory from the jaws of defeat, the team begin to believe he is a miracle worker.
"Kohli has earned the respect of the team as an inspiring leader and they expect good things to happen with him in charge."
He also praised Kohli for changing the way erstwhile Indian teams approached fielding and fitness.
"As a captain, Kohli has led the way in many aspects of the game in addition to his incredible batting feats. His fitness, and insistence on high fielding standards, have resulted in India being a much-improved side in both these aspects of the game.
"The fact that he has 'finished off' so many of India's victory opportunities has been an inspiration to other players to adopt a similar mentality.
"Rohit Sharma, in particular, has benefited from Kohli's example, and his two sixes in the first Super Over win against New Zealand this week were a classic example of how self-belief has spread through the team.”
While talking about the team's depth, Chappell said Indian bowlers will be able to rattle New Zealand in the upcoming Tests.
"India's pace attack has the ability to rattle the New Zealand batsmen, just as the Australians did, and India have more spin options. India's batting is deeper than Australia's, and I'll be surprised if Kohli and Rohit Sharma don't take a positive approach to Neil Wagner's short-pitched bowling."
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