Virat Kohli in action© Bcci
Known for his intensity and an incredible desire to win, Virat Kohli never liked the practice matches and instead liked the pure sessions on the “Spicist” wicket, in which Pacers went to him at a distance of 16 yards, former India bowler coach Bharat Arun said on Tuesday. Arun, who was part of the core coaching group during Kohli’s golden years as the captain of India, described those times as the “best moments” of his career. Arun told PTI during a conversation, “Indian and World Test cricket will remember him and his personality. I have spent some of my best moments as captain as India’s bowling coach.”
“He never liked the practice match,” Arun remembered.
“He always felt that intensity was somehow missing and did not really enjoy the practice games. Instead, he wants to spend more time in the nets and will always choose Spiceist wicket and would get bowlers to bowl with 16 yards – or throw below 16 yards.
The fact is – they always needed a challenge. He is leaving him, “he said.
Arun recalled what he described as a “decisive moment” before the 2018 boxing day test against Australia in Melbourne with a 1–1 series series.
He said, “Virat scored a great hundred in Perth, but we did not win that match.”
“When going to Melbourne, it was Virat who literally changed the mentality of the dressing room. They assured everyone that we could do it and went as a leader about their business in a way.” India won the test and sealed the victory of a historic series, which was their first on Australian soil.
Kohli retired with 9,230 runs in 123 tests, including 30 centuries, on average at an average of 46.85. His record as Captain – 40 wins in 68 tests – is the best by any Indian captain.
He said, “He respected more format than anything and left.”
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