Kohli: 'You don't need to be a captain to be a leader'

Says he could have "more things to contribute to the team" as a batter

31-Jan-2022

Virat Kohli weighs his options, Cape Town, January 12, 2022

Virat Kohli has said that he doesn't need to be captain of the team to be a leader for India, suggesting that he could contribute more as the side's batting mainstay.

Kohli had stepped down from the Test captaincy earlier this month following the series defeat in South Africa, ending as India's most successful Test captain.

His unexpected decision came after he stepped down from the T20 side before being removed as ODI captain as well.

During Digit's 'Fireside Chat with VK', Kohli spoke about how one can contribute to the team even when he is not its leader.

"Everything has a tenure and time period. You obviously have to be aware of that," Kohli told Digit's 'Fireside chat with VK'.

"People might say 'what this guy has done' but you know when you think of moving forward and achieving more, you feel like you have done your job.

"Now as a batsman maybe you have more things to contribute to the team. You can make the team win more. So take pride in that. You don't need to be a captain to be a leader. As simple as that."

Kohli had taken over the captaincy from MS Dhoni, first in Tests and then in limited-overs cricket.

"When MS Dhoni was in the team it was not like that he was not a leader. He was still the guy we were going to constantly to get inputs from.

"But for him to understand that, yes it is natural progression and a natural time for me to take over and take Indian cricket forward to a level that I wanted to and as long as I feel that I have done that job without having materialistic goals, that has a longer lasting effect."

Kohli also talked about the timing of moving on. Rohit Sharma has taken over from him as the white-ball captain, while the board is yet to announce his successor in Tests.

"Taking the decision to move on is also part of leadership, to understand the right time to do it. To understand that, maybe the environment needs a different direction. Obviously same culture, but a different set of ideas to boost people in a different way and contribute in a different manner.

"One has to embrace all kinds of roles and responsibilities. I have played under MS as a player and I have been the captain of the team for a long time, my mindset has been same.

"I always thought like a captain even when I was a player. I want to make the team win. I have to be my own leader."

Virat Kohli India