Dear Virat Kohli,
I write this with a lot of pain in my heart. Confessions first. I am a very big fan of yours. Not just me, my entire family.
We watch with bated breath every innings of yours – be it in a test match, an ODI, a T20 or even the inconsequential IPL matches. When you are on song, everything stops – does not matter if we are at home or at work.
You first sprung into our collective radar with THAT knock of yours at Hobart where you dismantled the feared Malinga. Shane Warne had famously spoken about nightmares when bowling to Sachin. A less vocal Malinga must be feeling a similar pain a decade later while not having expressed it.
At that time, your aggression was welcome and a nice antidote to the ageing Fab Four (SRT, RD, VVS, SG) who still represented the nice and respectable aspect of Indian cricket.
Later, it helped that when Dhoni was at the helm, his calmness was so overpowering that it masked your expletives.
As you rose to the position of India’s captain, you unleashed the power of pace, the benefits of which we are reaping in every series.
As fans, we loved you enough to live with your unruly behavior. Just because your bat spoke, and the mountain of runs compensated the poor behavior.
But, these days, your bat is not talking loud enough. That is making people ask questions about your role in the team too.
Are you a good Captain? Yes, of course. Was the Lord’s win possible ONLY because of your aggression? The answer is a vehement yes.
But the bitterness in the match? Completely avoidable. We have had great wins before – the World Cups, the Perth and Brisbane wins – even the T20 world cup final with Pakistan – but those matches leave a smile on your face, no bitter feelings. Because we never let the dignity of the sport tumble.
Are you a great Captain? The jury is still out. With the talented team at your disposal, your trophy cupboard is very bare.
It might make sense for you to reflect on this gap. Is your personality working against you? Are you creating so much pressure on the team that it crumbles at crucial junctures? Are you creating so much hatred among competition that we become the “must beat” team or the team to wreak vengeance on?
Dear Kohli, you already have an astounding record but that would count for nothing if, a few years from now all we remember is the bare cupboard of trophies and your uncivil behavior.
You are no longer a rookie captain, in fact, you are India’s most capped captain. But many still view you as work in progress.
Why? Simply because you have transformed into a people’s leader. Your brashness is taking the sheen away from your hard work.
There are countless sports examples that exemplify the rapid fall of poor behavior. Greg Chappel, Jose Mourinho – very successful leaders but with few friends in the world and delivering results significantly inferior to their capability. Even their days of leadership are not reminisced with fondness.
Your path to greatness is strewn with nuggets of humility, disregard them at your peril. As a fan, I wish you make that transition. That could be the change that could give you your first ICC and IPL trophy. Also, the change that would make the world remember you as not just a record holder but a role model.
