Former Australian captain Greg Chappell showered praise on Virat Kohli amid the ongoing three-match ODI series for his stellar career in the 50-over format. The former Indian head coach highlighted that Kohli has played an instrumental role in taking India’s team to new heights in ODIs.
Kohli has been a consistent performer with the bat in the 50-overs version of the game and has done a fantastic job over the years for the team. But Kohli was dismissed for a duck in the first two ODIs against Australia in the ongoing series.
Greg Chappell said on ESPN Cricinfo, “Kohli was never just a batter, he was a movement. He arrived on the ODI scene in 2008 with raw promise, and by 2017, when he was full-time captain in the format, he had seized the reins of a side in transition and reshaped it. He brought what few dared to – a warrior’s mindset. He turned India’s ODI side into a sharp, focused and supremely fit unit that played to win, home or away.”
Chappell said Kohli always put the personal records on the back burner for the team’s sake.
“But what truly set him apart, even from the legends who came before him, was his detachment from personal statistics. While the world raved about centuries and aggregates, Kohli cared only about the outcome. He once said that he played for India, not for records – a statement that defined his leadership. Individual feats were often the focal point of India’s cricketing narrative; Kohli sought something larger. His currency was legacy, not numbers.”
On the other hand, Chappell also lauded Virat Kohli for playing Test cricket with passion and playing a key role in lifting the red-ball format.
“But beyond individual brilliance in ODIs lay something rarer: their love of and devotion to Test cricket. Kohli wasn’t shy about it – he spoke often, and passionately, about the purity of the format. He made it cool again to care about playing in whites. Rohit, through his transformation, showed that Test cricket rewards those who respect its tempo. In an age where players often chase leagues, fame, and IPL contracts, Kohli and Rohit were naturals who became the face of their franchises for over a decade. No matter the format, they dominated. They were never trying to be viral. They were trying to be vital.”
India has posted 264-9 in the second ODI against Australia at Adelaide.
