Graeme Smith doesn’t know if Virat Kohli “is a long-term captain option for India”
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Former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith has expressed his concerns about Virat Kohli keeping hold of the captaincy in the long run.
Smith feels that Kohli has to learn to keep his emotions in check as his fiery attitude can have an adverse effect on his team.
That being said, Smith still rates Kohli as one of the best batsmen in the game today.
“When I look at him, I don’t know if he is a long-term captain option for India,” Smith was quoted as saying by sacricketmag.com. “His performances [with the bat] speak for themselves, but whether he can get the best out of the players around him is the question.
“When I look at Virat, I think he needs someone in his corner who can constructively challenge him and help him grow. He has all the capabilities tactically, he’s good at knowing his own game, he sets a real standard on the field for everyone else and leads by example.
“I think it’s on the emotional side [he needs to improve], he gets very fired up without thinking about how that affects other people.
“If he had a very constructive person in his environment, who is able to have good conversations with him to make him think and challenge his ideas in a constructive way – not in an angry-aggressive way – to help him open his eyes to other possibilities; that would make him a very good leader.”
Smith pointed out that while some players may identify with Kohli’s aggressive mindset and approach, it might have a detrimental effect on other players.
“Virat is an outstanding player,” Smith said. “He loves the confrontation and intensity which brings the best out of him.
“Sometimes as a leader, you have to consider how that impacts others in the environment. That’s an area of his leadership that he needs to cope with. Sometimes his reactions to certain situations can impact the team.
“We all know how powerful he is in cricket. He needs to find a level where he can connect with all his players, to help the India team become as successful as he is.
“Sometimes, you can be the best player in the world and love that intensity, but you don’t think about what your teammates are going through.”