Kohli: Team spirit is standout feature

VIRAT Kohli has been officially been captain of India in 30 Tests. He has led the team on a further two occasions as a stand-in for MS Dhoni.

In that period, India have triumphed in 20 Tests and not lost a series in three years. But, like his predecessors, he yearns for elusive success away from the turning tracks of home.

There have been victories in Sri Lanka and West Indies, but it is the scalp of one of the “Big Three” that Kohli craves. India visit England and Australia over the course of the coming months after their South African safari.

Kohli is already the mega star of Indian cricket. Victory in Africa could virtually grant him immortality status.

He did not come to the prematch press briefing, with batting coach Sanjay Bangar sent instead, but there’s no doubt while taking in the glorious sunshine at one of Cape Town’s prestigious beaches he would have been thinking that the time to re-write history has arrived.

Unlike previous teams to have arrived on South African shores, this current lot certainly have all their bases covered. The galaxy of classy batsmen is still there like before, but they are now much more comfortable – or at least they profess to be – in adapting to the pace and bounce that South African surfaces routinely serve up.

No longer does the sight of green grass create the sense of fear that usually accompanies prisoners on death row.

Equally, the tourists have a pace bowling unit that can now exploit the favourable seaming conditions almost just as much as their hosts. Coupled with the all-round talents of Hardik Pandya, who is a hard-hitting, fast-bowling prodigy that Dhoni would have given one of his famed motorbikes away just to have in his side, adds to the balance.

On the last tour here – although truncated to just two contests – India showed massive signs of improvement. They had their hosts on the ropes for most of the Wanderers Test, but were ultimately unable to deliver the knockout blow before actually themselves just surviving the nine count after a superb century from now Proteas captain Faf du Plessis.

Unfortunately, they could not follow it up in Durban with another performance when the euphoric wave of Jacques Kallis’s retirement was just too much to handle.

Duncan Fletcher was the coach at the time, and after years spent in South Africa in charge of the Western Province team, would have been well-versed in the conditions.

Kohli doesn’t have Fletcher by his side this time, but does have the guru Ravi Shastri’s vast experience and knowledge to count on.

“Ravi has been there for such a long period of time. He has a wealth of experience, not only in playing 80 Tests but also as a broadcaster for 25-30 years. So he has seen a lot of cricket and his experience is really vital in making decisions,” Bangar said.

The Kohli-Shastri partnership is a potentially explosive one that takes no prisoners. They both have a ruthless streak second to none, and will push to very limit in order for their teams to cross the line.

The last word, though, does belong to Kohli who senses his team’s destiny is fast approaching.

“We are looking at this phase as a time we will remember forever for the rest of our lives,” Kohli said on India’s arrival in the country last Saturday. “We want to enjoy playing together. That has been the highlight of this team. The team spirit is the standout feature.”

There’s no doubt this “team spirit” will be tested over the coming months, starting right here at Newlands from this morning.