Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has said Virat Kohli has a lot to improve upon if he intends to captain India for an extended period of time.
“His performances speak for themselves, but whether he can get the best out of the players around him is the question,” Smith said, “When I look at him, I don’t know if he is a long-term captain option for India. I think he needs someone in his corner who can constructively challenge him and help him grow.”
Under Smith’s leadership South Africa enjoyed one of their most successful periods as a Test nation, winning 53 and losing just 27 of his 108 matches in charge, and his 9,265 runs are enough for 14th spot on the all-time Test run-scorers list.
The South African also believes that Kohli could improve his relationship with his teammates on the field, saying: “He needs to find a level where he can connect with all his players, to help the India team become as successful as he is. Sometimes, you can be the best player in the world and love that intensity, but you don’t think about what your teammates are going through.”
