Virat Kohli - Future of Indian Batting?

After seeing India piling up 370/4 against Bangladesh in the first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the commentators were ranting and raving about Sehwag’s maturity in a big game and how he applied himself for Team India on this huge occasion. Another Delhite was meanwhile quietly accumulating runs on his way to a World cup hundred on debut. Coming in at number 4, selected over Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli had to prove himself to hold down his place in this World cup 11 and he sure did so in style, a century off just 83 deliveries. Well, he ain’t the no.2 ranked ICC batsman in ODIs for nothing!

Virat Kumar Bismillah Kohlis Patel, born on the 5th of November 1988 in Delhi, first came into the limelight at a Ranji Trophy game against Karnataka. He scored 90 runs and his innings was crucial for Delhi’s cause. You would never have known that his father had passed away on that very day. It was a sign of his great temperament, concentration and determination which would characterize his game in the years to come.

He then led India’s U-19 team to a World cup victory at the 2008 U-19 World cup in Malaysia. He was India’s middle order mainstay scoring 237 runs in 6 matches, including the innings of 100 off 74 balls against the West Indies. He scored the first 50 of that innings at a run-a-ball and then let loose scoring the second 50 off just 24 deliveries showcasing his capability to up the ante when the situation required. Along with his astute bowling and fielding changes as captain, he was one of India’s best finds in that World Cup.

Following his great showing at the Emerging players tournament in Australia in 2008, where he top scored for India with 398 runs including 2 centuries, he was selected for the ODI National team. After an average start to his ODI career, he had a very lean patch in the IPL with claims that stardom was going to his head ala Yuvraj Singh as he became a regular at parties and celebrity bashes. Cricket took a back seat and it took some realization and real effort over the last 2 yearson the part of the youngster to bring it all back.

Since then, Kohli has had an amazing run scoring 995 runs in the calender year of 2010 with his last 12 innings coming at an average of 71 runs/inning. His aggregate in 2010 is only bettered by Hashim Amla and he has often been compared to Rahul Dravid for his excellent technique and consistency which has taken him to no.2 on the ICC ODI rankings. Batting under pressure is his forte considering he averages twice as much when India bats second. His ton against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens and his single handed rescue of India against Australia at Vizag are testament to that. I hope the selectors have finally realized his worth amidst doubts over his position in this World cup 11.

He is also an able fielder and can bowl a bit making him quite a versatile cricketer who could be a gamechanger against any opposition. His maturity and temperament are his biggest strengths which would hold India in good stead in the years to come making him a possible future captain. Of course, he has a long way to establishing himself as a great cricketer forget middle-order mainstay, but the signs are good and the future seems bright for the young star from our proud nation’s capital.

Final Reads : 890 : Pts 6/10

Editorial Score : Pts 9/10

Total Pts : 15/20