Anil Kumble delighted with the transformation of Virat Kohli as a cricketer

Team India head coach Anil Kumble has hailed captain Virat Kohli for his exceptional performances off late and said that the transformation of his flamboyant Delhi lad from a 19-year-old kid to becoming one of the most accomplished batsmen of this generation has been brilliant. Speaking at an event in Mumbai Kumble said that it was the passion, motivation and dedication for the game which helps Virat rise above the rest.

“Virat Kohli, brilliance. I think one word is very difficult (to describe him). I have seen him develop from a 19-year-old, who walked into Royal Challengers (Bangalore) first time after he won the (U-19) World Cup as a captain, to the transformation that you see now, it’s been brilliant. To see someone that passionate, that kind of motivation and dedication he has,” Kumble said.

The champion leg-spinner who bagged more than 600 wickets during his illustrious cricketing career also praised former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his exceptional leadership qualities. “And similarly with MS (Dhoni), coming from Ranchi, nobody expected that someone from Ranchi would be leading the country. And the way he has led the (team), 10 years as a captain, it’s extremely difficult. But to be Indian captain for 10 years is something unheard of and hats off to the way he conducted himself as a captain of the team. He was perfect ambassador for the sport,” said Kumble.

“And I don’t think anything ruffled him. You could really figure out what he was thinking even when one ball six runs to go or if the opposition needed two runs to win and you still have an over to go. You did not know what he was thinking, he would always go with his gut. It was amazing to win two World Cups, Champions Trophy and No. 1 in Test, you can’t ask for more,’ the former captain added.

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Kumble also said that the most difficult job of a coach is to go and tell his players that you are not playing or not in the squad. “But you have to take those hard decisions,” he opined. During the interaction, Kumble also recalled some memories of his historic 10 wicket haul against Pakistan in Delhi way back in 1999 and also the infamous Antigua Test in 2002 where he bowled with a broken jaw and dismissed Brian Lara.