Would be nervous of Virat Kohli who doesn’t have captaincy responsibilities – Jonty Rhodes

Former South Africa batter Jonty Rhodes has launched a warning to teams and said they would be nervous of Virat Kohli who no longer has captaincy responsibilities.

Kohli decided to relinquish his Test captaincy duties after India lost the Test series against South Africa by 2-1. Kohli had a fantastic record as a batter during his captaincy stint however Rhodes reckons the talisman can be more ominous without the leadership onus on his shoulders.

The leadership got the best out of Kohli as he scored 5864 runs in 68 matches at an average of 54.80. Kohli led India to 40 Test wins in 68 matches, in which the team lost 17 and drew 11. Thus, Kohli has the best Test record of all Indian captains.

Kohli has revealed that he now wants to focus on his batting and it will be interesting to note his performances as a batter in all three forms of the game as he is a vital cog in India’s wheel.

“I’d be a little bit nervous of a Kohli who doesn’t have the responsibility of leadership. Not that it cost him anything. I think he scored incredible runs for India. But he is such a passionate guy that he would want go out there and score heavily just to show that he is still relevant to India in any capacity,” Rhodes told NDTV in a media interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network.

Kohli led from the front and took India’s Test team to new heights under his tenure as a captain. The team savored success in foreign conditions and the 2018-19 win in Australia was the highest point in Kohli’s Test captaincy regime. Rhodes heaped praise on Kohli for his successful stint as India’s Test captain.

“With regards to him stepping down (as Test captain), it’s always a personal decision. He’s obviously not retired. Many captains leave the job and just walk away but Kohli’s still around. He is very passionate. We know how he plays the game. He is always 100% committed. His work ethic is just as strong. He obviously thinks he has a role to play for India still, just not as a captain. You have to respect someone like him for what he has done.

“I can’t judge him and guess the reasons for him stepping down as India’s Test captain. But if he is still there, surely that’s a good thing” he added.

Kohli can be proud of his achievements as a Test captain as he got the best out of the team. The talisman will now be seen in action in the limited-overs series against the West Indies, which will be played in February.