Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar recently shared his views on Virat Kohli’s tenure as the Test captain of the Indian cricket team, suggesting that the celebrated cricketer should have continued in the role for a bit longer.
Kohli, who captained India in 68 Test matches, left an indelible mark on Indian cricket by leading the team to the top of the ICC Test rankings.
‘I feel is that he could have probably continued as a Test captain for longer’ – Sanjay Bangar
Bangar, reflecting on Kohli’s captaincy, expressed his belief that the star batsman had more to offer in the leadership role. “I personally feel that he (Kohli) should have continued slightly longer as a Test captain. He probably captained India in 68 Test matches, and one of the things I feel is that he could have probably continued as a Test captain for a longer period,” Bangar remarked during The Rao Podcast.
Kohli’s captaincy journey took a surprising turn when he decided to step down as the captain of the Indian T20 team in 2021, a move that was followed by his removal from the ODI captaincy. Kohli had previously expressed his discontent, stating that there was no clear communication from the management regarding the decision to relieve him of his leadership duties in limited-overs cricket. “At that time, I also communicated that I would want to continue as captain in both ODIs and Tests unless the office bearers and selectors felt that I should not take that responsibility,” Kohli had revealed in an earlier statement.
Virat Kohli’s tenure as Test captain is remembered for some of India’s most memorable victories, including the series win in Australia and the iconic triumph at Lord’s against England in 2021. However, his record in ICC knockout tournaments remained a point of discussion throughout his captaincy career.
