Virat Kohli might have been given the test captaincy of India, but, the BCCI has kept him under consideration for his on and off field behaviour and any act of arrogance in future might cost him big.
According to the reports, the way the Delhi player abused a media person during the World Cup, it did not go well with some of the board officials and if India had any other solid option for Dhoni’s replacement in test matches, Virat might have been denied the captaincy.
But, the fact is that Virat is the only option at present.
He and Ajinkya Rahane are the only two players whose places in the test team are certain.
As far as Rahane is concerned, he does not have any experience of captaincy at all. He has not captained at any level and he is not a natural leader either.
Virat, on the other hand, has got that leadership quality. His enthusiasm on the field is fantastic and he can encourage anyone.
That’s why, he has always been seen as future captain, but, very often, he tends to cross the fine line between aggression and arrogance.
Virat led India in two test matches in the Border-Gavaskar series recently and he was alright with his field placements and bowling changes.
It takes everyone a bit of time to learn the art of captaincy in the longest form of the game. You can’t be technically astute from day 1. You learn as the time goes by. Virat will learn too.
But, at the moment, he should make sure that he keeps his temper under control.
There have been players in the past who were hot tempered at the start of their careers, but, got matured with age. Virat will have to go that way if he has to captain India for a long time. Uncontrolled aggression will take him nowhere.