Virat Kohli may have his faults. He can be brash, in-your-face and ill-tempered. His methods are not for everyone.
Yet, he has a priceless quality — his zeal for Tests. Kohli’s heart is in the right place.
In this day and age when cricket is driven by commerce, Kohli prioritises Test cricket, continues to be fascinated by the challenges of the five-day game.
Kohli confesses to being obsessed by the thought of winning Test series away from the sub-continent and wants his men to show the same intensity.
He doesn’t stop with just putting in the hard yards himself — he follows a rather brutal fitness regimen — but drives his men to give their everything in pursuit of glory in whites.
And he wants the current bunch to carry the message forward to the next generation to chase the Test dream.
High point
This has been a momentous trip of Australia by India. The visitors finished the tour by winning ODI decider at Melbourne, but the high point of the campaign was the maiden Test series triumph in Australia, after 71 years of trying.
It was a historic feat. At the heart of the Indian conquest was skipper Kohli. His passion for Test cricket is infectious. It rubs off on his men.
Rishabh Pant, the young wicketkeeper-batsman is a case in point. Just into his 20s, he is a phenomenal talent, not daunted by situations or adversaries.
An improving ’keeper, he has surprised many by raising the level of his glovework, Pant’s batting skill appears out of the ordinary with his bat speed, ability to pick the length and the strength of his wrists.
Pant, goaded by Kohli, is relishing the challenges of Test cricket, has grown in stature.
Right chemistry
Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri — they share the right chemistry — also understood the value of developing the right pace pack and keeping it fit to win away series.
Bowling coach Bharat Arun and fitness trainer Shankar Basu had crucial roles to play in keeping the pacemen hungry and in good shape.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and the rest were on target, with their speed, hostility, variety and, most importantly, control. They maintained the pressure from both ends, gave very little away in terms of width or length and choked the batsmen with accuracy.
There were several instances of Australian batsmen losing their wickets after a start but they were never really in because of the intense struggle for runs and there being no let-up in pressure. And when they slipped, the Indians struck.
Biggest factor
Bumrah — with his freakish action, speed, lift and control — was the biggest factor, and Shami — with his skiddish pace — not far behind. Ishant Sharma too chipped in with his tight lines and bounce.
Catches were held — fielding coach R. Sridhar was on the ball. Then there was the old Test faithful Cheteshwar Pujara with loads of runs.
Kohli’s journey in Test continues. The expectations have only risen.