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'Jo Usne Aag...' - Harbhajan Applauds Virat Kohli’s Inspirational Captaincy Despite Lack Of ICC Titles

Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh ( Source: @ImTanujSingh/x.com and @cricbuzz/x.com) Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh ( Source: @ImTanujSingh/x.com and @cricbuzz/x.com)

In a significant news, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has lauded Virat Kohli’s influential leadership and acknowledged his profound impact on the team’s mindset and approach. Despite not securing an ICC trophy during his tenure as captain, Kohli left an indelible mark on Indian cricket by instilling a winning mentality, particularly in overseas conditions.

Virat Kohli took over as India’s Test captain in 2014 and subsequently led the team in all formats. Under his leadership, India became a formidable force, particularly in SENA nations, where they historically struggled. 

Kohli’s emphasis on aggressive tactics and fitness helped propel the team to remarkable series victories, including the historic 2018-19 Test series win in Australia, followed by a second consecutive Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in 2020-21.

Harbhajan Singh Lauds Virat Kohli's Captaincy

In an interview with Sports Yaari, Harbhajan Singh reflected on Kohli's captaincy tenure and emphasised how his aggressive approach and relentless pursuit of victory transformed the team’s mindset, especially in challenging Test matches abroad.

"Kohli ki kaptaani mei chaahe aap World Cup nahi jeete (you may not have won a World Cup under Kohli's captaincy), but it doesn't make him a lesser captain or lesser player," Harbhajan  Singh said on Sports Yaari.

He credited Virat Kohli for nurturing a resilient attitude in the team, encouraging players to challenge seemingly insurmountable targets rather than playing for draws.

Jo usne aag lagayi na team mei (the fire that he ignited in the team), like it may be a target of 400 in the fourth innings of a Test, we'll go for the chase, we won't' panic. If we go down, we do it while chasing. It takes a lot of guts and brain, which Kohli has instilled in the team. So every person has left his legacy." Harbhajan said.

While Kohli's leadership didn’t yield ICC silverware, his legacy is evident in the grit and aggression displayed by players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and others, who have thrived under his influence. 

"That determination to fight till the end, which Shubman and Rishabh showed to win that Test in Gabba. It was because the way the team's thinking changed," Harbhajan concluded.

As Kohli prepares for the upcoming series against New Zealand, Harbhajan expressed confidence that the former captain will bounce back and return to form, particularly as India looks forward to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.