Virat Kohli 'too emotional', should learn from Dhoni, says Steve Waugh

Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and (inset) Steve Waugh

Shanghai: Australia's World Cup winning captain Steve Waugh feels Indian star Virat Kohli should learn from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to keep his emotions in check and mature as a captain.


Steve Waugh

Kohli took over the reins of Test captaincy from Dhoni, who announced his shock retirement from the longest format post the third Test against Australia in December. The Kohli-led India were just able to draw the fourth and final match but lost the series 0-2. Waugh opines that the young leader has a lot to learn.

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"Kohli has to mature. He had a few issues this World Cup. He gets a bit too animated, bit too emotional, bit too personal on some issues. As a captain you have got to develop a thick skin and Dhoni has that, nothing gets through him. So he would be a good role model for Kohli. He has to be his own man but also take a bit of what Dhoni has.

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"Dhoni has never been bothered about what people say. The external things don't influence him. He just keeps it simple, goes about his job in the best that he can do on the field.


Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni pats Virat Kohli after he scored an unbeaten 72 in India's 2014 World T20 semi-final win against South Africa in Dhaka on April 4. Pic/AFP

"I like Kohli's passion. You can't be there starting every fight when he is a captain. He has to pull it back.

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"He doesn't have to lose that passion but just have to be a little more smart in the way he does things," Waugh told PTI at the sidelines of the Laureus World Sports Awards, here yesterday.