Virat Kohli: The ‘Tiger’ Who Redefined Indian Test Cricket
In the annals of Indian cricket, few names resonate with the ferocity and transformative power of Virat Kohli. Much like the legendary Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who was affectionately dubbed ‘Tiger’ in the 1960s for his daring leadership, Kohli has carved his own legacy as a captain who instilled a relentless hunger for victory. His era, marked by a war cry of ‘Let’s give them 60 overs of hell!’ during the iconic Lord’s Test in 2021, will echo through history as a defining moment of Indian Test cricket in the 21st century.
That summer afternoon in London was more than just a match; it was a testament to the Kohli-way—a philosophy of unshakable self-belief. Trailing with the odds stacked against them, India could have settled for a draw after a miraculous ninth-wicket stand by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Yet, Kohli, ever the aggressor, refused to play it safe on foreign soil. The result? A stunning 151-run victory at the ‘Home of Cricket’, arguably the pinnacle of his captaincy—a role where he often outshone even his own batting prowess in the longest format.
Kohli’s strategy hinged on a meticulously crafted pace attack, a brainchild of his partnership with coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharath Arun. Featuring the lethal quartet of Bumrah, Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Ishant Sharma, this unit became the cornerstone of India’s overseas success. This echoes a parallel from history when Pataudi relied on a formidable spin battery including Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, and S Venkataraghavan. At Edgbaston in 1967, Pataudi’s spinners restricted England to modest totals of 298 and 203, though India fell short with the bat. Yet, as Kapil Dev later reflected, this era inspired a generation of Indian bowlers to master spin, shaping the nation’s cricketing identity for decades.
Fast forward to 2018, and Kohli mirrored Pataudi’s boldness by fielding four pacers in Perth. Despite a loss, despite his own gritty century, this decision signaled a seismic shift toward pace in Indian Test cricket. Under Kohli’s leadership, veterans like Shami and Ishant thrived, while Bumrah emerged as the ‘Kohinoor’ of Indian bowling—a term fitting for a bowler Australian great Adam Gilchrist dubbed the ‘Bradman of pace bowling’. Introduced to Tests in South Africa in 2018, Bumrah’s unorthodox action and unrelenting accuracy paved the way for historic back-to-back series triumphs in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, cementing India’s red-ball dominance.
Beyond strategy, Kohli, much like Pataudi, united a diverse team under a singular vision. Pataudi overcame regional divides to instill a sense of ‘Indian-ness’, as Bedi recalled. Kohli, on the other hand, revolutionized team culture through fitness. Transforming himself into a lean, mean cricketing machine, he demanded the same rigor from his squad. This ethos ensured that even in the final session of a grueling Test, his pacers could still clock 140 km/h, a direct result of the fitness revolution he spearheaded.
Yet, Kohli’s leadership wasn’t without its fiery moments. A lesser-known incident in Cape Town in 2018, after a collapse chasing 208 against Vernon Philander, saw him deliver a blistering two-hour talkathon to his team, as revealed by a management insider. His frustration was palpable, and his message clear: mediocrity was unacceptable. The response was immediate—a fighting century in a losing cause at Centurion, followed by a gritty win on a treacherous Johannesburg pitch. This was the first step toward global supremacy.
As we reflect on Kohli’s captaincy, it’s clear he has left an indelible mark, much like Pataudi did half a century ago. From nurturing a world-class pace attack to redefining team ethos, Virat Kohli—the modern ‘Tiger’—has not just played the game but reshaped its very fabric for Indian cricket. His roar at Lord’s will reverberate through time, a reminder of an era when India dared to dream big and, more often than not, turned those dreams into reality.