Kohli needs to learn from Dhoni: Waugh

April 15, 2015

Shanghai, Apr 15: Australia's World Cup winning captain Steve Waugh feels Indian star Virat Kohli should learn from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to keep his emotions in check and mature as a captain.

Kohli WaughKohli took over the reigns of Test captaincy from Dhoni, who announced his shock retirement from the longest format post the third Test against Australia in December.

The Kohli-led India were just able to draw the fourth and final match but lost the series 0-2. Waugh opines that the young leader has a lot to learn.

"Kohli has to mature. He had a few issues this World Cup. He gets a bit too animated, bit too emotional, bit too personal on some issues. As a captain you have got to develop a thick skin and Dhoni has that, nothing gets through him. So he would be a good role model for Kohli. He has to be his own man but also take a bit of what Dhoni has.

"Dhoni has never been bothered about what people say. The external things don't influence him. He just keeps it simple, goes about his job in the best that he can do on the field. I like Kohli's passion. You can't be there starting every fight when he is a captain. He has to pull it back. He doesn't have to lose that passion but just have to be a little more smart in the way he does things," Waugh told PTI at the sidelines of the Laureus World Sports Awards, here today.

Even Australia have been led by the young Steven Smith in recent times with Michale Clarke's injury making him unavailable for most of the Australian summer.

Clarke joined the team in the World Cup only to to quit ODIs after helping Australia clinch their record fifth 50-over World Cup trophy. Waugh does not shy away from comparing Kohli and Smith as players and leaders.

"They are different personalities, poles apart, one who has his emotions in check, while the other shows his emotions all the time. Both are great players, Kohli probably has the best technique and may be Smith has best temperament. Both are exceptional talents and they are going to score lot of runs and be leaders for a long time. But there are many things to work on for sure," said Waugh.

Asked if he would like to take up the job of India coach if offered, Waugh said: "I haven't thought about it. I am not the right candidate right now. I have a good understanding of the game but I don't have coaching experience. It is a difficult job coaching India. You have to know the culture, there is a lot of expectations from the team.

"I also have three teenagers at home now, besides some business commitments. It is a great job and it would be an honour, may be five years down the line I might take it up but not now," he added.

Waugh said he sees himself more in a mentor's role now.

"I like mentoring and I would definitely want to do mentoring role. You have to take it step by step. Just because you have been an influential player doesn't mean that you can get into coaching. I will consider it if I get an offer from IPL players," he said.

Talking about India's performance at the World Cup, Waugh said: "India were the favourites but it was a big total. May be one or two down with 15 overs to go and India would have won it. they obviously have a great batting line-up and it is unfair to criticise one or two players for one off day. Pressure can do that to you. I don't think toss was decisive."

The 49-year-old was of the view that the bowlers got a raw deal in this 50-over showpiece event with the fielding restrictions and it was batsmen who dominated the game.

"It was too hard on the bowlers with field restrictions, especially in the last 10 overs. There is just no way to protect the fours and sixes and the bats are of much better quality then it used to be in my time. The bat is 15-20 per cent better and the guys are 15-20 per cent stronger and the boundaries are 20 per cent shorter, so it makes a huge difference when you combine them all. That's why batsmen are dominating one-day cricket," he said.

Regarding ICC's decision to cut down the number of teams to 10 from 14 next edition, Waugh said: "I like 12 teams. I was impressed with teams like Afghanistan and Ireland. I think the only way they are going to get better is by experience. So I think ICC needs to have shorter games. I thought six weeks was too long. I am disappointed that there will be just two associate teams next year."

On corruption in cricket, he said: "It will be naive to think that it is not happening. ICC is doing a pretty job at the international level but the danger is at the leagues and Twenty20 competition. These have potential to get influenced by wrong forces. Players are well educated. It is the strong captains and leaders who dictate the moral compass of the players."

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News Network
May 6,2020

May 6: They have similar impact on their teams but Virat Kohli is driven by sheer passion to subdue the rivals while Steve Smith just enjoys batting, says Australia opener David Warner.

India skipper Kohli and top Australian batsman Smith are arguably the top two cricketers of the current era. They achieve new milestones consistently, invoking debates, who is better between them.

"Virat's passion and drive to score runs is different to what Steve's would be," Warner said while speaking to Harsha Bhogle on 'Cricbuzz in Conversation'.

"Steve is going out there for a hit in the middle, that's how he sees things. He's hitting them out in the middle, he's having fun, he's enjoying himself, just does not want to get out."

Warner feels, while Kohli is batting he is aware that if he sticks around the middle his team will be on top of the proceedings.

"Virat obviously doesn't want to get out but he knows if he spends a certain amount of time out there, he's going to score plenty of runs at a rapid rate. He's going to get on top of you. That allows the guys coming in, especially in the Indian team you've got a lot of players who can be flamboyant as well."

The Australian opener added that both men are mentally strong and a good knock by them boosts the morale of the entire team.

"When it comes to cricket, they both have got the mental strength, the mental capacity to score runs. They both love spending time in the middle.

"They stabilise, they boost morale - if they score runs, everyone else's moral is up. If they are out cheaply you almost sense that on the field that everyone is (down on morale and thinking) 'now we all have to step up'. It's a very bizarre situation," he added.

Asked about the similarities between himself and Kohli, who are both live wires on the field, Warner said the passion to do better than the opponent keeps him going.

"I can't speak for Virat, obviously, but it's almost like we got this thing in us when we go (out to the middle) we need to prove people wrong, prove someone wrong."

"If you're in that contest, and if I'm going at him for example, you're thinking, 'Alright, I'm going to score more runs than him, I'm going to take a quick single on him'. You are trying to better that person in that game. That's where the passion comes from."

Warner also explained how he breaks down a match into smaller competitions.

"Obviously you want to win the game but you almost break it down to: If I can score more runs than Virat, or if Pujara scores more runs than Steve Smith, you have these little contests and that's how you try to narrow the game in the sense that if we do these little things, we can be ahead of the game or we can be behind the game.

"The passion is driven by...I know my sense - one, the will to win and two, wanting to do better than that person in the opposition," said Warner.

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News Network
January 23,2020

Dhaka, Jan 23: Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who is part of the Bangladesh squad traveling to Pakistan, posted a cryptic tweet before team's departure which raised a few eyebrows.

On Wednesday evening, Rahman took to Twitter to post a selfie along with his teammates before the team's departure and asked his followers to pray for them, writing: "Heading to Pakistan. Remember us in your prayers."

Bangladesh were earlier reluctant to travel to Pakistan. However, the officials of both the teams met in Dubai and it was after many deliberations, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) agreed to send their team for a cricket series.

Bangladesh will be playing three T20Is, two Tests and an ODI in Pakistan between January and April. The T20I series will be played from January 24-27 in Lahore, followed by the first Test from February 7 to 11.

Bangladesh will then return to Pakistan in April for the one-off ODI which will be played on April 3 and the second Test from April 5-9.

Senior players like Mushfiqur Rahim decided against traveling to Pakistan citing personal reasons. After that, five members of the Bangladesh coaching staff also pulled out of the tour.

Pakistan have also recalled the experienced duo of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, along with pacer Shaheen Afridi for the T20I series.

Squads:

Bangladesh: Mahmudullah (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Kumer Das, MD Mithun, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Mustafizur Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Hasan Mahmud.

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Ahsan Ali, Amad Butt, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Usman Qadir.

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News Network
February 18,2020

Berlin, Feb 18: Sachin Tendulkar being lifted on the shoulders of his teammates after their World Cup triumph at home in 2011 has been voted the Laureus best sporting moment in the last 20 years.

With the backing of Indian cricket fans, Tendulkar got the maximum number of votes to emerge winner on Monday.

Tendulkar, competing in his sixth and last World Cup, finally realised his long-term dream when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smacked Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara out of the park for a winning six.

The charged-up Indian cricketers rushed to the ground and soon they lifted Tendulkar on their shoulders and made a lap of honour, a moment etched in the minds of the fans.

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh handed the trophy to Tendulkar after tennis legend Boris Becker announced the winner at a glittering ceremony.

“It's incredible. The feeling of winning the world cup was beyond what words can express. How many times you get an event happening where there are no mixed opinions. Very rarely the entire country celebrates,” Tendulkar said after receiving the trophy.

“And this is a reminder of how powerful a sport is and what magic it does to our lives. Even now when I watch that it has stayed with me.”

Becker then asked Tendulkar to share the emotions he felt at that time and the Indian legend put in perspective how important it was for him to hold that trophy.

“My journey started in 1983 when I was 10 years old. India had won the World Cup. I did not understand the significance and just because everybody was celebrating, I also joined the party.

“But somewhere I knew something special has happened to the country and I wanted to experience it one day and that's how my journey began.”

“It was the proudest moment of my life, holding that trophy which I chased for 22 years but I never lost hope. I was merely lifting that trophy on behalf of my countrymen.”

The 46-year-old Tendulkar, the highest run-getter in the cricket world, said holding the Laureus trophy has also given him great honour.

He also shared the impact the revolutionary South African leader Nelson Mandela had on him. He met him when he was just 19 years old.

“His hardship did not affect his leadership. Out of many messages he left, the most important I felt was that sport has got the power to unite everyone.

"Today, sitting in this room with so many athletes, some of them did not have everything but they made the best of everything they had. I thank them for inspiring youngsters to pick a sport of their choice and chase their dreams. This trophy belongs to all of us, it's not just about me.”

In a tweet on Tuesday, Tendulkar dedicated the award to his country, teammates and fans.

"Thank you all for the overwhelming love and support! I dedicate this @LaureusSport award to India, all my teammates, fans and well wishers in India and across the world who have always supported Indian cricket," he tweeted.

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