Ishant Sharma elaborates on how previous captain Virat Kohli has impacted the Indian squad, saying that he “knows how to groom youngsters.”

Virat Kohli’s batting performance in the future WTC (2023–25) cycle was stressed by Indian paceman Ishant Sharma. Sharma thinks that the former India captain needs to score runs in order to have a meaningful impact because Kohli has had a rough few years.

While Kohli has recently failed to find his groove in Test cricket, he did display flashes of brilliance earlier this year with an outstanding 186-run innings against Australia in Ahmedabad. At day’s end on Day 2 of the first Test against the West Indies at Roseau, Kohli was unbeaten on 36 and will be seeking to end his lack of international centuries on Day 3.

Ishant Sharma emphasized how important it is for older players to set an example when responding to a question regarding Kohli’s role in developing the young players during the new WTC cycle.

When commentating on JioCinema, he said, “The most crucial thing is that if you are a senior player, you will first have to score your own runs; otherwise, the juniors will also ask what the point of you being a senior is.”

Ishant voiced faith in Kohli’s capacity to perform despite his recent setbacks. He mentioned Kohli’s present mental condition and batting form as elements that will probably contribute to his success in the next few matches. Additionally, Ishant lauded Kohli’s mentoring abilities, saying

He has led the Indian squad for a long time; therefore, he is skilled at developing young players.

Ishant used Kohli’s prior efforts to develop young players like Rishabh Pant to bolster his claim. Kohli urged players to trust their technique and play their natural game rather than imposing a particular strategy. Ishant stressed the importance of a captain’s support, saying:

If your captain supports you, it becomes crucial for you as a player.

Kohli captained India for 68 Test matches, during which time they won 40 games while losing just 17. His leadership qualities have received widespread praise, and on multiple occasions, India’s success has been greatly attributed to his abilities to mentor and inspire young cricket players.

The Indian team is counting on Kohli to guide and motivate the young prospects as the new WTC cycle gets off, as well as to recover his ruthless batting form. There is no doubt that Kohli’s success will have a significant impact on the team’s performance.