Smith doubts Kohli’s captaincy, says he is not long-term option
MUMBAI: Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has raised questions over India skipper Virat Kohli’s leadership credentials, asking if he really is the right choice for captaincy in the longer run.
Having kick-started his captaincy st int with impressive wins at home against top teams, Kohli is facing severe criticism post India’s capitulation in South Africa in the ongoing Test series.
According to ESP NC ric info, at a breakfast event organised by South African TV network Super Sport, Smith made his opinion clear in the company of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and cricket er-turned-commentator Pommie Mbangwa.
Smith said, “I don’t know, when I look at him, if he is a longterm captaincy option for India. At the end of this year, he’d have been away from home for awhile, the pressure he’ll face, the scrutiny from the Press — I know he only gets that in India — but if you’re away from home and you’re struggling for form as a team, I don’t know if I’d want to burden Vi rat K oh li with that ... Or if India have a better leader in that environment.”
Smith, who was made South Africa captain at the age of 22 and went on to have an excellent run as the leader, said that there
He’s built this aura and for him to find a level where he can connect with players, to get to a level where he can get the team to be as successful as he is, that’s something that he, when I watch him, is grappling with. GRAEME SMITH, Former South Africa skipper on Virat Kohli
should be someone in the Indian support staff who could challenge Kohli constructively.
“When I look at Virat, I think he needs someone in the support staff who can constructive ly challenge him and help him grow. He has all the capabilities tactically, he knows his own game, he sets the standard in the field for every- one else. We all know he’ s an outstanding player, his intensity really benefits his own personal game, he loves that confrontation, that intensity brings the best out of him,” Smith said.
“Sometimes as a leader you’ ve got to consider how you impact the others in the environment, that’s an area of his leadership that he needs to grow. You can see, he’s often at his players.
“Often his reaction to situations ... I think that can sometimes impact your team negatively... if he had a constructive person in his environment, who could talk to him, make him think, that would make him a really good leader.”