Gary Kirsten: Youngsters can thrive under Dhoni and Kohli

 

Gary Kirsten is currently in Jaipur for a 10-day camp 

Former India coach Gary Kirsten heaped praises on India’s Test captain Virat Kohli and said the youngsters in the team can learn a lot from Virat Kohli and India’s limited overs skipper MS Dhoni. Under Kohli, India has performed very well, winning Test series in Sri Lanka and West Indies and they defeated the Proteas 3-0 at home last year.

Kirsten was India’s coach when the Men in Blue won the World Cup in 2011 and one of the lasting images from that tournament was Kohli and Raina carrying him on their shoulders during the victory lap around the Wankhede Stadium. The departing coach had admitted that it was “one of the toughest goodbyes” he had to say.

Kirsten then coached the South African national team for two years before founding the “Gary Kirsten Academy” through which he travels around the world in order to take cricket to the countries that are yet to embrace the sport.

Meanwhile, Kohli has made giant strides in international cricket, and it has been his unabated pursuit for perfection and his ability to push the envelope that has made him a truly special cricketer. Ever since taking over the reigns from MS Dhoni in Test cricket, Kohli has matured as a skipper and has captained India to series wins both at home and in overseas conditions. 

Having followed Kohli’s rapid progress with interest, Kirsten admitted that he wasn’t surprised by the giant strides taken by the Indian Test captain. “Virat’s talent was never in doubt, but he has been a great leader too,” Kirsten, who is in Jaipur for a camp at the Rajasthan Cricket Academy, tells Wisden India. “Players will want to play for him, he’s the kind of leader who has led by example.”

Kirsten who had a wonderful rapport with MS Dhoni during his tenure as coach for Team India believes the current crop of players can get the best out of both the inspirational leaders.

Taking over as India’s head coach in 2008, the former South African opener also shared a good rapport with Anil Kumble, the then Test captain of India during the legspinner’s last year in international cricket. More recently, when Kumble was appointed as India’s head coach, he acknowledged the influence of his predecessors John Wright and Gary Kirsten by espousing their low visibility and behind the scenes approach.

Kumble who had a terrific start to his coaching stint with a 2-0 triumph in West Indies received strong backing from Kirsten.

“I am sure he will do a great job. He’s got a great knowledge of the game and understands the pressures that are involved at the highest level. He is a very likeable person and well respected in the international cricket circles and also the Indian society,” acknowledged Kirsten.

“I am sure the players will love working with him. He is a great guy, I enjoyed with working him a lot.” he concluded.