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How Kohli settles into a team where he may not be the most popular batsman will define his legacy

The same stairs go missing when it comes to knockout stages. This team needs KL Rahul.

But the elevator never works when the team needs it :)). We saw it in SA. I agree a batsman like KL Rahul would be an asset to any team. But this comparison with the world’s best is unwarranted.
 
Kohli and Rahul comparison is pointless.

When Rahul deserves to be compared alongside Kohli, I will be the first to do it.
 
Even the comparison of Babar and Kohli makes more sense than Kohli vs Rahul. Atleast Babar has performed for an extended period of time.
 
But the elevator never works when the team needs it :)). We saw it in SA. I agree a batsman like KL Rahul would be an asset to any team. But this comparison with the world’s best is unwarranted.

I agree he is our best but given time and opportunity, Rahul has the potential to surpass him. I still remember how Kohli looked so out of place when he first started his career in that legendary batting lineup. He has no right to deny Rahul his well deserved spot in the team, even if it means he has to bat at #4.
 
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Kohli and Rahul comparison is pointless.

When Rahul deserves to be compared alongside Kohli, I will be the first to do it.

Say anything rahul will score in test matches in his first tour unlike kohli.
 
The difference in age between Rahul and Kohli is only 4 years I believe, so it's not like Rahul is part of the next generation after Kohli.
 
Premature thread. Kohli will be looking at all these kal ke bachay and be like:


Pohanch to gaye ho, leken abhi itnay baray nahi howay


:sendoff :sendoff
 
Seems like the indians who are bashing virat are way too early excited from rahul few tullabazi .
 
Do you realize he opens for us and gets to play on these flat pitches against weak sides more often than any other player? So he scores a few hundreds against weak attacks on flat roads? Such a big deal now that its tough to find FTBs in India?
He's cost india more matches with his slow batting, hiding behind Dhawan who takes all the risk wasting PPs. Until we kick this guy out we aren't winning anything major

Win or lose. Sharma is playing a heroic knock here and when it mattered the most.

Kohli playing the supportive role
Hes getting used to it and happily. Its a great sign.
 
Win or lose. Sharma is playing a heroic knock here and when it mattered the most.

Kohli playing the supportive role
Hes getting used to it and happily. Its a great sign.

Kohli has always played supporting role whenever required. How else you think Rohit got 3 doubles in ODIs? Kohli is a lot of things but selfish isn't one of them.
 
Kohli has always played supporting role whenever required. How else you think Rohit got 3 doubles in ODIs? Kohli is a lot of things but selfish isn't one of them.

I agree with you. Kohli is a team man and he will happily play the supportive role.
 
Another great Bobby by Kohli. He's getting into the groove in his new role. :14:
 
To be honest, the recognition of KL Rahul's talent goes to [MENTION=134809]sensible-indian-fan[/MENTION]

When KL opened in the 2014-15 tour to Australia, sif had identified him as potentially the next big batsman in Indian cricket.

Thank you for the kind words, my friend.

Since I don't have extensive technical knowledge reg batting and bowling, I can't judge players well before they develop. I usually judge based on their domestic & international performance, and adjust my expectation depending on their temperament and willingness to improve.

As for KL Rahul, I rated him high due to his domestic achievements and because of the glowing testimonial from Steyn who raved about him when he himself was at the peak of his powers.

Anyone who can score daddy hundreds on green mambas is a talent. Anyone who gets rave reviews by Steyn gun himself is someone to be respected and backed.

When Rahul debuted, I wasn't that impressed by him. He would bat well when he did but in many of the innings, get out in the most simplest of ways scoring almost nothing. I was suspicious of this guy for the whole of 2015 but just hoped he would be backed because it takes time to establish yourself.

It was in the 2016 IPL (I think) and especially the WI test series, that I truly became a fan of this guy. He has this unique ability to make perfectly good bats around him seem mediocre. That T20 in USA really confirmed that this guy was special.

Still, I wasn't sure whether he would do justice to his talent (he was wayyyy too reckless in the NZ 2016 test series). But the 2017 Aus series changed it all for me.

This guy will struggle. He will stutter. He will sometimes get out in ways that will make people lose faith in him.

And then out of nowhere, he will simply explode, shed his weaknesses and play outrageous knocks.

In his short career, he has many instances where things like this happened:

1. Didn't look anything special in IPL. Poor domestic LOI stats. Out of nowhere, develops crazy hitting skills (2016 edition I think) that leaves people gasping.

2. Was a 100 or 0 batsman when he started. A 100 will be followed by multiple single digits with the most infuriating dismissals. Then out of nowhere he went on to score 7-8 consistent 50s (world record right?) facing a formidable lineup in most bloody hard pitches.

3. In 2018 IPL, he was waaayyyyy too attacking at first. Played extremely high impact knocks. When his team couldn't capitalize on his knocks, his overall impact went down. He was throwing away his wickets for no reason in the first 5-7 games. Then out of nowhere, he curbs his aggression a touch to score more runs, and controls the innings of his team like a PRO. Some of the knocks he played were utterly brilliant. The best was against Rajasthan Royals where he singlehandedly dragged his team to an improbable win on a surface that had gone completely rogue.

The quality of the knock, the bowlers he faced, the calculations he made to stretch the game till the end...WOW. He tried his bloody best and would have succeeded if Jofra Archery hadn't nailed several yorkers on a row like he did that way. The match was lost. Even then, KL used some innovative shots to smash him but then it was too late (KL Rahul 94 with SR 135...next highest score 11 with SR of 68).

This guy is something else.

Let's hope KL finds his groove in ODIs and the subsequent test series and explodes.
 
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Virat kept tinkering with Rahul’s batting position and now drops him. What an awful idiot of a captain he is.

Rahul should bat at 3. Kohli at 4 for the sake of India in WC 2019.

Kohli has hurt Indian cricket by doing everything in his way to destroy Rahul’s confidence and career in all formats.

He will never be as great as a Sachin as a player or person.

Can we please boot this egomaniac out from captaincy?
 
Kohli's runs in this series or India loosing or winning doesn't matter anymore. His legacy has been established already today.......as per OP because he let Rahul bat at no: 3 :D
 
I think a lot of Indian posters should hang their head in shame today. They should be ashamed of themselves for they put a nobody IPL rokstar over the best batsman in their history, they doubted Kohli's intentions and called him selfish, insecure and what not. Worst fans on earth.
 
Its clear that kohli focuses more on tests over Lois and IPL
 
Very poor thread, I would say. A nobody gets "a" century, and he overtakes Kohli.

Any batsman would need to perform consistently for 5 years, in all 3 formats, across the globe, only then can he challenge King Kohli.

Coming to Rahul, this(5 matches) is his last chance to say that he belongs to international cricket, if not he would be regretting. For me personally, he deserves more chances, but he's not helping his cause by showing glimpses of Akmal.
 
Rahul got an unplayable delivery. He is all class...dont lose hope. Kohli alsi struggled against Eng in 2014

No, it was not unplayable. In English conditions, you need to play the ball late, allowing the ball to swing, rather than poking at it before it swings. Rahul went at the ball, rather than playing it late.

I am not saying Rahul won't improve but, it's not good to state Rahul is ahead of Kohli despite not doing anything.
 
Not to worry, the next IPL is a little over 8 months away. Even having a baby takes longer.

KL Rahul can be as big of a superhero as he wants out there.
 
Lol at this thread..only ppl who don’t know basics of cricket can think and open a thread like this...hope common sense prevails and this thread be deleted for the sake of op’s humiliation ������
 
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Also noticed that he has tightened up his game.

That's always a good sign.

Can't agree with you man, you have backed him for long and I have been against him for long, he has similar mentality as that of Uthappa and he will not be consistent.

He is going to be a dud for us.
 
Can't agree with you man, you have backed him for long and I have been against him for long, he has similar mentality as that of Uthappa and he will not be consistent.

He is going to be a dud for us.

He's hundred times the batsman Uthappa ever was.
He will come back good mark my words.
 
Passing the test with 10/10 at the moment.

Kohli is happy to see Rahul, Shaw, Pant blaze away to glory while he accumulates hundred after hundred for India.

Very mature and impressive batting by the skipper.
 
The most popular batsman averaging 2 this series. Kohli should retire and let Rahul be the captain.
 
He's not up there with Rahul and Hetmyer type batsmen impact wise but fiull respect to him for continuing to take on the Bobby and scoring bucket loads of runs. Thats the hallmark of his greatness.
 
Honestly, how many threads you bump bro? Rahul is absolutely fine, stop bumping threads after every game.

Sorry bro, this is the first thread I've bed about his failure, today.

I think you are confused.

If you think Rahul is absolutely fine, then I am sorry. Your expectations are too low.
 
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It was pleasantly surprising to see India come close to winning after losing their way in the middle overs. Kicking Dhoni out of the t20 team must have had an energizing effect on the middle order :)
 
Yet to get an answer to this. Who exactly has touted Rahul as the best batsman to emerge out of the SC in the 21st century?

That he has a beard, applies gel to his hair and has an apparel brand by his name. So a few fans think that if looks like Kohli, behaves like Kohli and brands himself like Kohli, then he must be as good as Kohli. Few live in age of surfaces where appearance matters more than ability.
 
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This Rahul needs one kick on his back.

Needs to be sent to domestics.

He will murder the trundlers there. And then what? I think this is the best for him. Keep him the team and then finally dump him if he doesn't change. I think it's more of an attitude thing than skill with him.
 
Rahul has talent. Give him a long rope like Rohit. Stick him at a permanent position and let him figure his form out by himself. India needs him to regain his bearings before wc.

I hope to see Prithvi Shaw in Australia. Hope he is selected for 1st test.
 
Rahul has talent. Give him a long rope like Rohit. Stick him at a permanent position and let him figure his form out by himself. India needs him to regain his bearings before wc.

I hope to see Prithvi Shaw in Australia. Hope he is selected for 1st test.

Rohit is still a failure in tests, and will always be. Talent means very little cricket. Not everybody is ABD or Tendulkar who can use their talent properly. Ashraful from Bangladesh was one of the biggest talent in early 2000s, look where he is now.
 
Captaincy has taken the flair from Kohli's game and he wasn't even among the most flashy batsmen to begin with. I hope he does not end up becoming the right handed version of Kumar Sangakkara i.e., a run machine with zero flair or impact or both.

It is fair to say Rohit Sharma is the most popular and dangerous LOI batsman in this Indian team currently.

Rahul has to find his God mode back.
 
Captaincy has taken the flair from Kohli's game and he wasn't even among the most flashy batsmen to begin with. I hope he does not end up becoming the right handed version of Kumar Sangakkara i.e., a run machine with zero flair or impact or both.

It is fair to say Rohit Sharma is the most popular and dangerous LOI batsman in this Indian team currently.

Rahul has to find his God mode back.

Disagree on the Sanga part, but agree on Kohli part. Kohli has become very boring to watch lately, I don't care about his xx records anymore. He is orgasmic for statisticians but as a person who enjoys watching sports, I don't find his batting entertaining, especially in this age of T20s.
 
Disagree on the Sanga part, but agree on Kohli part. Kohli has become very boring to watch lately, I don't care about his xx records anymore. He is orgasmic for statisticians but as a person who enjoys watching sports, I don't find his batting entertaining, especially in this age of T20s.

True virat is too methodical batsman specially for LOI's.
 
Captaincy has taken the flair from Kohli's game and he wasn't even among the most flashy batsmen to begin with. I hope he does not end up becoming the right handed version of Kumar Sangakkara i.e., a run machine with zero flair or impact or both.

It is fair to say Rohit Sharma is the most popular and dangerous LOI batsman in this Indian team currently.

Rahul has to find his God mode back.

True. Sanga was very boring and Kohli is getting there. However, Kohli's runs are still impactful. I think Kohli has embraced the methods of Sachin 2.0 a tad early. During the later stages of his career, Tendulkar was boring to watch as well. Maybe, a good No.4 and No.5 batsmen after WC will make Kohli loosen up a bit.
 
Also noticed that he has tightened up his game.

That's always a good sign.

Nope. He's still a bunny for incoming deliveries. He looks confused. Rahul needs to make a mark soon or he will be left behind by the Shaws and Gills. Ideally, he should play well in the next T20s and test series to claim a spot in the ODI team and then perform well. Seems like a tall order
 
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Virat Kohli doesn't care about T20 internationals anymore. I think he should just play the world T20. He is just giving chances to others by coming down at 4. There is distinct lack of interest from KOhli to play T20.
 
Kohli shouldn't be sacrificing his number 3 position in T20s for an inferior player.
 
True virat is too methodical batsman specially for LOI's.

Dunno why he had to change his batting style. ABD still managed to average 54 with 100+ SR. High average is good for team but not entertaining. For LOIs, I prefer entertainment over records.
 
A time comes when no matter how great and legendary you have been, someone comes along and t akes the spotlight away from you for a while or even permanently.

Whether you let that bother you from the inside and make you do desperate things to get that spotlight back or whether you choose to play wise and let it be a moment to quietly settle into a new role is what separates all time legends from great players once.

Virat Kohl might still be the best batsman in that Indian team today but he is surely no longer the most popular. KL Rahul is the man right now. The moment is with him and India must di everything it takes to let him play in all formats and at the right batting positions.

Kohli might stikl out last Rahul but he doesn't have to eclipse him for the time being. He needs to quietly settle into his new supportive role and let Dhawan, Rahul do yhe domination.

He needs to take inspiration from Sachin who after dominating the 1990s like no one ever would, was happy to see new stars emerge around him and decided to control his aggression to play a longer inning and he indeed did that. While Dravid, Gangly, Sehwag, Laxman had their moments Tendulkar outlasted them all. He didnt take it to his ego when he was temporarily pushed to supportive roles.

Kohli must follow the foot steps.

Legendary thread for a legend called K L Rahul! Bumping it after another legendary performance by Rahul, scored 2 runs. He has already played 60% of test matches Hafeez played and their stats are incredibly close, an average of 37ish in test cricket. Mohammad Hafeez of Indian cricket.
 
I think as FC says Rahul is someone who doesn't realize how good he is.

He has lost his way.

He is mediocre now but if he gets his act right, he could be amazing.

Maybe dropping him and asking him to play domestics would be an act of kindness and the best thing to happen to him.

I am very very disappointed that he hasn't improved his game in the months leading up to the series.

Even during the 149 in England, I didn't like the way he played (technique). It felt different from how he used to bat. Felt more awkward.

Let's see how his career pans out. Time is ticking.
 
Whenever I see this thread bumped up, I have a hearty laugh. Sorry Bhaijan. :yk
 
Huge respect to Kohli for settling into a Bobby role and letting Rohit Sharma be the bigger star.

His legacy remains intact.
 
He's cost india more matches with his slow batting, hiding behind Dhawan who takes all the risk wasting PPs. Until we kick this guy out we aren't winning anything major

5 centuries at the WC. And you wanted to kick Rohit out for KL?
What has KL done so far in his ODI career to be even compared with Rohit Sharma?
 
He doesn't really care about T20s unless it's tournament. He mainly focuses on test matches and tournaments rightfully so. I expect Gill, Shaw, Mayank and Rahul Chahar to florish under him. To posters' backing KL Rahul, i suggest there is no point being delusional. The only reason KL is given a long run is because he is a stroke maker and friend of Virat but when pressure mounts from everywhere he will eventually have to sort out his mental game. There is no point destroying your confidence right now piecing back broken glass. Take a break, make a strong comeback and prove everyone wrong.

There will be pressure on Kohli with KL.
 
This is a nothing thread because chances of him not being the most popular player in the team are zero. Sachin retired before he became a star and quickly replaced his biggest threat in Dhoni as the most popular player in India.
 
He doesn't really care about T20s unless it's tournament. He mainly focuses on test matches and tournaments rightfully so. I expect Gill, Shaw, Mayank and Rahul Chahar to florish under him. To posters' backing KL Rahul, i suggest there is no point being delusional. The only reason KL is given a long run is because he is a stroke maker and friend of Virat but when pressure mounts from everywhere he will eventually have to sort out his mental game. There is no point destroying your confidence right now piecing back broken glass. Take a break, make a strong comeback and prove everyone wrong.

There will be pressure on Kohli with KL.
Why then is kohli playing the SA series or the windies t20's, he could have skipped them like bumrah's done. Right now kaptaan is **** scared of letting sharma captain a team because more wins for sharma will mean more doubts over kohli's LoI captaincy.
 
Why then is kohli playing the SA series or the windies t20's, he could have skipped them like bumrah's done. Right now kaptaan is **** scared of letting sharma captain a team because more wins for sharma will mean more doubts over kohli's LoI captaincy.

That is a good point about sharma breathing down his throat but i do think Kaptaan saab is secured with his ODI captaincy, i'd give him benefit of doubt and say he is a late bloomer in captaincy.
 
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