Gambhir on Kohli’s batting: “He is the key to India’s chances in the World Cup”

Gambhir on Kohli’s batting: Former India opening batsman believes that the Indian captain holds the key for his team.

Former India opening batsman Gautam Gambhir, who is currently playing his last Ranji Trophy match against Andhra at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, was recently vocal about India captain Virat Kohli.

Having announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on the day before yesterday, Gambhir said that Kohli holds the key for India’s chances in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

“I admire his batting, the way he is scoring runs. He is the key to India’s chances in the World Cup. He is a fantastic batsman,” Gambhir was quoted as saying in an interview with Hindustan Times.

On being asked about if he would want to advise Kohli on anything as a senior pro, Gambhir said that there isn’t any one particular advice like that. “I don’t want to advise anybody but leadership is different from captaincy. Aggression suits him, let him do that within rules. If it doesn’t suit Rahane or Rohit, let them be the way they are,” Gambhir said.

“Leadership is not about making people the way you are but finding out how the other 14 want to play and carry them along as well. There are different ways of being aggressive; people who show emotions, people who don’t.

“You don’t expect Pujara to be as expressive but he won’t be less aggressive. He’ll be fighting till the last drop of blood. Those guys are important, who don’t show emotions and are willing to fight,” Gambhir further said.

With both of them hailing from Delhi, Gambhir might have heard about Kohli’s brilliance during his Ranji days. Other than playing together for Delhi, the duo has appeared together in 15 Tests, 68 ODIs and 14 T20Is for India.

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