Indian left arm spinner Karan Sharma He recently spoke about an important moment in his cricket career Virat KohliHe took a bold decision during India’s tour of Australia in December 2014. Speaking on Manjot Kalra’s YouTube channel, Sharma reflected on the gutsy mindset he displayed as captain during the tense first Test of the series in Adelaide.
Sharma, who made his Test debut in that match, reflected on how special the occasion was for him and how Kohli’s leadership set the tone for an aggressive approach. The match was Sharma’s first appearance in the longest format of the game, captaining the Indian side while Kohli was not the regular captain. MS Dhoni.
“My Test debut in Australia against Australia will always be special. Very few players get that kind of start. The atmosphere in the dressing room was pretty good. Ravi Shastri, the coach was there and we were all focused.” Sharma said.
He fondly recalled how the team chased down a tough target of over 300 runs in the fourth innings on Australian soil known for its tough conditions for batsmen.
“During this period, Virat made a bold statement, he (Virat Kohli) said, ‘No problem, we will chase him.’ It created a lot of positivity among the players in the locker room. It was a different approach, a different energy. Different captains have different styles, but he sent a great message to the team when he said we would run 300-plus in the fourth innings of a Test that was extremely difficult in Australian conditions. This showed that our captain has different plans.” Sharma added.
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Kohli’s fearless leadership shines through despite the narrow Adelaide defeat
Despite Kohli’s ambitious target, India lost the match by just 48 runs. However, Kohli’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. The Indian skipper showed his class by scoring centuries in both the innings of the match – 115 runs in the first and a magnificent 141 runs in the second. Sharma also made his mark in the game by scoring four wickets in both the innings.
Although the result was not in India’s favour, the match was remembered for Kohli’s fearless leadership and unwillingness to settle for a draw in difficult conditions. Sharma’s thinking sheds light on the mindset that has become synonymous with Kohli’s captaincy – aggressive, positive and always playing to win.
