Virat Kohli is a huge brand for cricket: Sourav Ganguly

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli cherished a special moment after completing a double century on a ground named after the West Indian great, Sir Vivian Richards. The legend himself was there in the stands to witness the iconic innings. Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said that Virat is a huge brand for cricket and is the future of Indian cricket.

“He (Kohli) is a passionate person, he loves this game, loves to be on the winning team and he loves giving kisses on the cricket ground. It doesn’t matter where he does it, whether it is on the pitch or his bat or whether it is for his fellow teammates, he wears his heart on his sleeve. He is a terrific advertisement for the game, a huge brand for cricket and he is the future of Indian cricket,” he said.

Ganguly feels that the double ton from the skipper in the first match of the series sets the tone for the series for the remaining batsmen to up their antique. “I did not get a double hundred so this is different, he has got a double hundred in Antigua in the 1st Test and a double hundred is different. Yes it helps when the captain gets a hundred in the 1st Test of a series, it sets the tone, it actually sends a message to the dressing room that listen if I can get it then rest can as well,” added the former Indian skipper.

Scoring runs at pace:

Virat Kohli became the first Indian skipper to score a Test double century overseas. Ganguly said that the pace at which Kohli got those runs, is what was really impressive. “The quicker you get runs it is good for the team. Look at how Virender Sehwag played Test cricket and the number of runs he got at a pace that always helps. I don’t think Kohli looked at scoring runs at that pace, he just kept playing and the runs kept on coming. There will be days when he will have to grind because that is the way the sport is. You know you have to find different ways of scoring runs.”

Also read – CricToon: Virat Kohli gets a call from MS Dhoni after his double ton

There has been a lot of people who were comparing the statistics of Kohli and Tendulkar. Ganguly said that he don’t use to compare eras but said that the performance of Kohli is special. “I don’t compare cricketers, I don’t compare eras but Virat Kohli is special. Yes, he is an emotional person. You will see emotions on the field with Virat Kohli until the time he plays cricket and that is the reason he brings back people to the ground. That is the reason he brings people like us to watch him play when he walks out to bat or when he walks out to field. You just get the feeling that he wants to win matches be it Tests, T20s or ODIs.”

“He has been in great touch over the last 2 years and is in, as you say, a purple patch. He has got runs all over the world, take Australia, versus South Africa, take IPL, in India and now in the West Indies. This may not be the best attack in the world that will give you sleepless nights in the Caribbean but you still have to get these runs and he is phenomenal. His feet movement, his confidence, his fitness is something to look forward to. He is a special player, it is a 4-Test series and this was just the first innings. I guess he will make these West Indian bowlers toil very hard right throughout,” the 44-year-old concluded.