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'Credit Goes To You': Gambhir Lauds Virat Kohli For Developing Fast-Bowling Unit

Kohli nurtured Bumrah under his captaincy [x] Kohli nurtured Bumrah under his captaincy [x]

Before Virat Kohli took over as the captain of the Indian Test team, the bowling unit missed the aggression required at the Test level. The cutting-edge was lacking and the result was that India were consistently losing matches in away conditions due to the below-par bowling efforts.

However, that all changed when Kohli became the full-time Test captain after the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Series Down Under. India lost the series 2-0, and MS Dhoni retired midway through the tour, leaving the team at the hands of a young, but tactically brilliant leader in Kohli.

Kohli developed Bumrah, Shami and Ishant Sharma

From there on, Kohli built crop of fast bowlers, capable of tearing apart the opposition batters in their own backyard. The likes of Mohammad Shami, and Ishant Sharma, who were underconfident under the previous regime, suddenly became world beaters, and with the addition of Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian fast-bowling crop became the best in the world.

India’s pace attack had the lowest average (23.43) among all Test teams from 2018 in Test cricket, signifying the impact of the bowlers, as well as the backing by the skipper.

Credit should be given to Kohli for building a fast-bowling culture in a spin-friendly nation (India). On Wednesday, BCCI released an interview, featuring the head coach, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli.

In the interview, Kohli and Gambhir discussed about their past incidents, and head coach, Gambhir also praised Kohli for nurturing pace-bowlers at such a young age.

"You built a solid fast bowling unit. I understand you were 24-25 when you took Test captaincy, the credit must go to you the way you formed the team at that time. Your attitude, winning overseas Tests."

Kohli had a remarkable 2014 tour of Australia

Coming on the back of a horrendous England tour of 2014, Kohli was under tremendous pressure when the Indian team toured Down Under. Plus, MSD missed the first Test in Adelaide due to an injury and Kohli stepped in as the captain.

Any other player would have come under pressure, but Kohli stood tall and slammed 4 centuries on the tour, and accumulated 692 runs, at an average of 86.50.

He finished as the second-highest run-getter, behind Steve Smith and despite India losing the series 2-0, Kohli came out as a better player and a supremely confident captain.