From achieving one rare feat to another, Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli seems destined to add new chapters to his glorious ongoing cricketing journey.
After leading the country to its first Test series win over South Africa in over a decade, Kohli is all set to become the third Delhi cricketer to captain the country on his home ground, the Ferozeshah Kotla, during the fourth and final Test of the series between the two teams starting here on Thursday.
When Kohli goes out for the toss at the Kotla, he will become the first Delhi player in 39 years to lead the country in his backyard. Legendary left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi was the last cricketer from the city to have done so, in a Test against England in 1976.
The Tony Greig-led side won that match by an innings and 25 runs, thanks to the efforts of seven for 46 and three for 24 by debutant fast bowler John Lever — who later got embroiled in the Vaseline controversy.
No differentBedi recalled, “Honestly, I don’t think I was different from the rest. I was just one of them and there was no great excitement of leading India on home ground. Those were different times. There was no hype or glamour. I remember we did not even stay in a five-star hotel. Cricket definitely was much more enjoyable.”
The debonair Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was the other Delhi player to have captained India at the historic ground.
Pataudi, who played domestic cricket for the capital city from 1960 to 1964, led the country in a drawn Test against England in 1964.
Interestingly, Pataudi’s highest Test score (203 not out) had come in that match in 1964. But he did not rate his knock high. He wrote in Tiger’s Tale , “I got 200-odd in the fourth Test at Delhi, which wasn’t a great innings, although the records show it as the highest ever against England by an Indian.
The first 90-odd runs were helpful because they came at a time when India was trying to save the match, whereas the remainder had no bearing on the result, which was another draw.” It must rank as the most self-deprecating appraisal indeed.
Pataudi went on to captain India at the Kotla in two more Tests — against New Zealand (1965) and Australia (1969) — which the host won by an identical margin of seven wickets each. However, by that time Pataudi had switched his allegiance to Hyderabad.
For 27-year-old Kohli, the South Africa series has to be a memorable one.
With India taking a 2-0 lead in the third Test in Nagpur, Kohli had the rare privilege of ending up on the winning side in his first home series as captain.
This was his second consecutive series win since taking over from M.S. Dhoni in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney in January; the earlier deed came in Sri Lanka when India fought back after losing the first Test.
So far, India has ensured victory in four of the nine Tests led by Kohli, drawing three and losing two — a good success rate.
Wearing the India blazer at the Kotla will certainly be a proud moment for captain Kohli. He made his first-class debut at Kotla in 2006-07 against Tamil Nadu.
Incidentally, Kohli’s India teammate M. Vijay’s first-class debut had come in the same match, which Delhi won. They can take a pleasant peep into the past as they prepare for the Test.
