Virat Kohli is India’s most successful captain in terms of number of wins in international cricket but hasn’t won a single ICC title since taking over the reigns from MS Dhoni.
Virat Kohli officially became India captain in all three formats when MS Dhoni stepped down in January 2017 (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- India has lost 3 ICC tournament knockout games under Virat Kohli
- India last won a ICC title under MS Dhoni when they clinched the 2013 Champions Trophy
- The pressure is piling on Virat Kohli and he knows that: Saba Karim
Former India wicketkeeper and national selector Saba Karim feels the pressure is mounting on Virat Kohli’s captaincy career due to the lack of ICC trophies in his cabinet even after 4 years since he succeeded MS Dhoni, who won the T20 World Cup, 50-over World Cup and Champions Trophy during his 10-year reign.
Kohli’s captaincy record has come under scrutiny once again after his team lost the ICC World Test Championship Final against New Zealand last month.
It was the second major final that skipper Kohli’s team lost after the 2017 Champions Trophy and the third ICC tournament knockout defeat after the 2019 World Cup semi-final. Incidentally, all three India defeats came in England – London (The Oval), Manchester and Southampton.
With their latest defeat, India’s 8-year wait for an ICC trophy stretched further and all eyes will now be on the upcoming T20 World Cup to end this drought. Saba Karim said that Kohli would be desperate to win the T20 World Cup on home soil to get some “breathing space” in his captaincy career.
“The T20 World Cup that is going to be played later this year will be extremely crucial for Virat Kohli’s captaincy career. The pressure is piling on Virat and he knows that he hasn’t won an ICC trophy yet. So, his aim would be for India to win the T20 World Cup,” Karim told India News Sports.
“If India can lift the trophy, then I believe Kohli will have that breathing space. Maybe he can take stock of the situation then and decide how long he wants to captain the team. His name in coming up in the list of big captains but an ICC title is far from him.”
India’s last ICC title came under former captain MS Dhoni when they won the 2013 Champions Trophy after beating England in the final.
They have since lost the 2014 T20 World Cup Final, 2015 World Cup semi-final, 2017 Champions Trophy Final, 2019 World Cup semi-final and the 2021 ICC WTC Final with the last defeats coming under captain Kohli.
Dhoni remains the only skipper in international cricket to win all 3 ICC titles – 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.
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