15 January,2017 11:42 AM IST | | Shreeram Gokhale
Ever since Virat Kohli took over the Indian Test captaincy, the contrasting styles of leadership between him and MS Dhoni have been quite visible. While Dhoni gave very little away, Kohli is always expressive on the field
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni during a practice session in Pune on Saturday
Pune: Ever since Virat Kohli took over the Indian Test captaincy, the contrasting styles of leadership between him and MS Dhoni have been quite visible.
While Dhoni gave very little away in terms of body language or words, Kohli is always expressive on the field. And especially in Test cricket, where Dhoni tried to make the games safe first, Kohli has often looked to take risks to go for a victory (in his first game in charge in Adelaide). The comparisons are unavoidable, but if there is one thing Kohli would like to take out of his former skipper, it would be his 'controlled aggression'.
"I've already learnt a lot from him. I think he's been so successful because he's been able to find the right balance in being offensive with his plans as well as understanding the game when it is dominated by the opposition on how to slow things down," Kohli said on the eve of India's first ODI of the three match series against England here.
"The thing I would love to execute from his captaincy is to strike a right balance between aggression, plans and understanding where the game is going away from the opposition," Kohli added.
Kohli also believes Dhoni will still play a big role in decision-making. "Me and MS have always understood our kind of operation out there in the middle. When he was in charge, I have always given my point of view and my thoughts to him. Eventually, he has made those decisions. Sometimes it may immediately click and he makes those changes right away. Sometimes he takes time to follow his instinct more and keep that as option B. His views will be priceless for me. But I will have my preparation first and keeping his views in mind, maybe immediately changes may not be made, maybe I will follow my instinct for a bit more and then maybe switch to a different plan B from a different point of view. It's the same thing. We both understand that as professional cricketers and it'll be pretty smooth," Kohli explained.
