The ‘Virat’ Problem That is Captain Kohli

Virat enjoys a place in Indian cricket where he gets to say what he wants, do what he wants and play when he wants.

Indian captain Virat Kohli enjoys a place in Indian cricket where he gets to say what he wants, do what he wants, and even play cricket only when he wants. 

(Photo: The Quint)

Virat Kohli says what he wants.
Virat Kohli does what he wants.
And now, Virat Kohli even plays cricket only when he wants.

The captain of the Indian cricket team is the undisputed champion on the field, scoring more runs than any other cricketer of his time. But when he posted a video telling a fan to ‘leave the country’ for liking foreign cricketers, it raised questions that for long weren't dared asked.

Why does Virat Kohli get to do what he wants?
Diss who he wants?
Get coached by whomever he wants?
Talk to reporters at press conferences however he wants?
Even play cricket whenever he wants?

The answer could be the fact that the only body that has any power over the Indian captain – the BCCI – is currently in an administrative vacuum, being governed by a court-appointed committee and an interim president’ who’s held the ‘interim’ post for almost two years.

The result is what Harsha Bhogle described in his tweet on Virat as ‘the bubble that famous people slip into where the voices within are frequently those you wish to hear.’

And within Virat’s ‘bubble’ in the dressing room currently is coach Ravi Shastri, who well, is the same man who said this Indian team, that lost the Test series in South Africa and England, is the best touring side in the last 15-20 years.

Shastri had replaced Anil Kumble, who was pretty much single-handedly sent packing by Virat Kohli.

Bhogle also wrote about ‘why this bubble is also the reason why contrary opinions are frowned upon’ and of course, that's a well-documented struggle of Virat with reporters on the receiving end.

Be it when India lost the Test series in South Africa and he was questioned about his selection or in England when he was asked to comment on Ravi Shastri’s views and snapped back at the reporter. That press conference was also Virat’s last for the next month as the Indian skipper chose to ‘rest’ from the Asia Cup where India played rivals Pakistan twice.

And that’s a new trend that's emerged with Virat Kohli. He is being allowed to pick the series he wants to play.

Virat missed the home Test series against Sri Lanka last December to get married, then missed the Nidahas trophy in Sri Lanka this March – but played the whole of the Indian Premier League – then he decided to skip the Afghanistan Test to play in Surrey, which he eventually didn't and then missed the Asia Cup and also the Windies T20s.

But while speaking to the CoA this month, he urged for the fast bowlers to be rested from the IPL next year, ahead of the World Cup.

Now if trends were anything to go by, shouldn’t the skipper who anyway rests from every second tournament himself pull out of the IPL to ‘rest’ and set a precedent that other players can follow.

Let them know it's okay to miss IPL and anger the board if it means targeting glory at the World Cup.

Why doesn't Virat use the immense powers that he has... for others’ good as well? Because that’s why you’re the leader right? To lead? To set standards to set an example.

And that’s another major area of concern with the Virat that he has become.

Rahul Dravid addressed this problem as well saying, 'What worries me is a lot of that (Virat’s attitude) gets translated into junior cricket. That's the scary thing for me. Kids at 12, 13, 14 want to become the next Virat Kohli, not realising that maybe that's not authentic to who they are.’

Because now when the next-gen of Indian cricket has started to make their way to the Indian dressing room… what do they do?

Do they continue to ‘be like’ Sachin or Dravid – calm, composed, humble match-winners – or do they aspire to be like this skipper of theirs – aggressive, derisive and, for Indian cricket, regressive?