Bring Kohli back as captain - Team India's desperate plea!

“Virat Kohli’s energy was infectious” - VVS Laxman quipped after India's sensational win in the second Test on the final day at Lord's against England in 2021 that helped them go 1-0 up in the 5-match series.

This was a victory that came against all odds. Chasing 272, England were bundled out for 120 in dramatic fashion with Kohli leading his pack of irresistible quicks with flair and unmatched zeal.

Virat Kohli's Intent

Kohli just knew which bowler was going to do the job for him. He only had 60 overs to bowl England out and take a lead in the series, a decision he arrived at after precise calculations.

“I don't want to walk off the field later thinking 'what if we had four or five more overs left with us',” he said later after the Test. “We decided, okay, 60 is our mark, and we are going to have a crack at them in 60 overs.”

Before the start of Englad's innings Kohli gave a fiery speech to his asking them to give England "hell". Kohli's energy and his intent seemed to add a few overs as India's relentless pace attack towered over the English.

The Centurion debacle

Fast forward to Centurion 2023, and the Indian attack appeared toothless on the very same surface where South Africa’s fast bowlers were all over the Indians. Not without reason, though.

Unlike the Proteas, India made elementary mistakes with the ball. At a crucial point in the game, with South Africa at 49/1, lunch was taken. The 40-minute break should've rejuvenated India’s quicks, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but instead of starting with them in the second session, Rohit Sharma threw the ball to Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna.

Ravi Shastri’s brutal assessment on air summarised the massive error in judgement.

“In any side, Shardul and Prasidh would be the last to kick off the session after lunch,” Shastri commented. “We discussed this many times during my coaching days, and usually, we opted for the top two bowlers to begin the session. Massive mistake. It allowed them to get off the hook in that session of play.”

It did indeed give Dean Elgar the early cushion he was seeking. The southpaw in his final Test series, went on to make a mammoth 185, driving South Africa to a lead that India wouldn't surpass in the second innings.

This Indian team was a shadow of the former proactive, merciless Indian team under an inspired leader that racked up memorable overseas victories in the last World Test Championship cycle and before.

Rohit v Kohli - the captaincy debate

Unlike Rohit Sharma’s credentials as Test opener, that has gone up over the last few years, his captaincy has gone on a downward spiral. Misjudgement has been a feature of his captaincy so far with the biggest one arguably coming in the World Cup final.

Despite a ruthless run to the final, a panic-induced altering of the surface for the final and subsequent failure to judge how the pitch would play - exemplified by Rohit confidently stating that he would have batted first had India won the toss - played into the hands of the Aussies, who capitalised on it with some exceptional planning.

It has been no different in Test cricket, where India's reputation, built up by Kohli and his vehement backing of the pace attack, has taken a serious toll.

Under Kohli, India won seven Test matches in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia), headlined by multiple series victories in Australia, the second one with Ajinkya Rahane leading a team that has Kohli's stamp all over it. 

In the two Tests Rohit has captained India in SENA countries, the team has lost without a fight - the World Test Championship final in 2023 and the recent Centurion Test match.

Overall, Kohli is India's most successful Test captain with 40 victories and 17 losses in his tenure in 68 Test matches. To put this into context, the Rohit Sharma-led India side has lost three out of 10 Tests so far, with a loss at home and another drawn Test, again at home, painting a bleak picture. 

It further went downhill with an innings loss in Centurion, which raises a pertinent question - why is Kohli not captaining this team to its past glory?

Kohli should captain India again

Kohli is in the team, and back in form with the bat. His knock in Centurion was a cut above the rest, like he always has been on those tough overseas tours. The fact that he arrived late and hit the Test match with little to no practice only makes his near-flawless knock a fraction less than a miracle.

India lost the Test nonetheless and would count again on Virat Kohli to help them level the series in the second Test against South Africa at Cape Town on 3rd Jan 2024.

The World Test Championship cycle of 2023-25 is still in its nascent stage, but with the slow overrate seeing India docked points, they are in danger of being out of contention for a place in the final. 

What better timing than now then to bring Kohli back at the helm? Him stepping down from the post itself was a result of dirty politics, but BCCI have time for course correction now.
 

With the team at a low point, an almost unprecedented occurrence in the past decade barring the 2019 World Cup semi-final, now is the time to act and bring back Kohli as captain. His love for Test cricket and supreme fitness means that even at the age of 35, it wouldn't be short-sightedness.

After all, could India find a more inspiring role model than the individual who remarkably revived his seemingly finished career, ultimately triumphing as the Player of the Tournament in a World Cup within just a year?