Virat Kohli is a top leader, close to becoming a legend: MS Dhoni
He will keep taking the team forward and that is what you want from a leader. I am very happy for him, in the way he has batted everywhere MS DHONI, former India skipper
MUMBAI: Former India captain MS Dhoni has heaped praise on his successor Virat Kohli for his rise to No 1 spot in rankings for batsmen in Test cricket, saying that the incumbent skipper is close to the status of being termed a ‘legend’.
Kohli quashed all talks of his poor record in England last week when he hammered his 22nd Test century and followed up with a fighting half-century in a narrow defeat for India at Edgbaston.
He scored 200 runs in the Test wherein the rest of the Indian batting contributed 236 across two innings, and his performances powered Kohli to the No 1 spot in the ICC Test Rankings for batsmen.
Kohli replaced his Australian counterpart Steve Smith, who is currently serving a one-year ban following the Sandpapergate scandal earlier this year.
Reacting to Kohli’s ascension Dhoni said, “He is the best; he has already reached a stage where he is close to a legend’s state. I am very happy for him, in the way he has batted everywhere and the last few years he has been brilliant.”
‘PROPER LEADER’
“He will keep taking the team forward and that is what you want from a leader,” added Dhoni, who on Tuesday was revealed as the 25% stakeholder in a mobile app for Run Adams, meant for athletes and coaches across sports.
Dhoni did not delve too much into India’s defeat in the Edgbaston Test, and assured that the team can win since the bowlers can take 20 wickets.
‘NEED 20 WICKETS’
“To win a Test match, you need 20 wickets, and we did that. So that (is) the only answer I would give because (it) does not matter how well you bat or how well you are (out) there for five days, because if you are taking 20 wickets, you can win a Test match,” Dhoni said.
India take on England at Lord’s in the second of their five-match Test series starting Thursday, August 9.
‘DEAD TIME’
“The idea of shot clock is about dead time in the game. It is not about when the bowlers are actually running in. It is hard to put a (limit on) time if a few boundaries are hit, etc.
“By the end of the over, the fielders and bowlers will have to be in their position, return to bowl by a certain time. It is nonnegotiable. It is the same for the new batsman coming to the crease.”
Ponting added: “The fining of the players hasn’t been administered very often any way certainly through the last 12 months. We are of the belief that run penalty would be something definitely worth looking at.
“You would imagine the captain will take huge responsibility in maintaining that (rate). If they are not in a position, 3 or 4 overs (slow), it is 20 runs, which as we saw in the game last week (are important) in a match.” India lost to England at Edgbaston last week.
This and other recommendations made by the panel will go before International Cricket Council for consideration.