Graeme Smith questions Kohli s leadership credentials
Johannesburg Jan 23 (IANS) Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has raised fingers at India skipper Virat Kohlis leadership credentials asking if he really is the right choice for captaincy in the longer run.
The 29-year-old Kohli who started his captaincy stint with impressive wins at home against top teams is facing severe criticism after his side lost the first two Tests in South Africa in the ongoing three-match rubber.
According to espncricinfo at a breakfast event organised by South African TV network SuperSport Smith questioned Kohli s leadership skills in the company of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and cricketer-turned-commentator Pommie Mbangwa.
"I don t know when I look at him if he is a long-term captaincy option for India " said Smith the most successful Proteas Test captain.
"At the end of this year he d have been away from home for a while the pressure he ll face the scrutiny from the press -- I know he only gets that in India -- but if you re away from home and you re struggling for form as a team I don t know if I d want to burden Virat Kohli with that... Or if India have a better leader in that environment " he added.
Smith further said there should be someone in the Indian support staff who could challenge Kohli constructively.
"When I look at Virat I think he needs someone in the support staff who can constructively challenge him and help him grow.
"He has all the capabilities tactically he knows his own game he sets the standard in the field for everyone else. We all know he s an outstanding player his intensity really benefits his own personal game he loves that confrontation that intensity brings the best out of him " Smith said.
"Sometimes as a leader you ve got to consider how you impact the others in the environment that s an area of his leadership that he needs to grow. You can see he s often at his players. He s very aware he s focus on the game is on sweeping or mid-on " he added.
Smith who was handed the mantle of the South African side at the age of 22 and went on to become one of the finest captains also pointed out the disconnect between Kohli and the rest of the team.
"(But) often his reaction to situations... I think that can sometimes impact on your team negatively. We all know how powerful Virat Kohli is in world cricket in Indian cricket.
"For him he s built this aura and for him maybe to find a level where he can connect with all his players to get to a level where can get the Indian team to be as successful as he is that s something that he when I watch him is grappling with " Smith said.
"I think if he had a really constructive person in his environment who could talk to him make him think maybe even challenge him with some different ideas in a constructive way not an angry or aggressive way but make him think open his eyes to other possibilities that would make him a really good leader " he added.
After losing the first two Tests by 72 and 135 runs respectively India face a daunting task to avoid a whitewash when they take on the Proteas in the third Test starting here Wednesday.
--IANS
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