Gautam Gambhir expresses concern for Virat Kohli after MS Dhoni's departure: 'I can imagine the struggles you faced'

Kohli, who was just 25 years old when he became India's full-time Test captain, understood the importance of the moment. With cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virender Sehwag retiring, it was clear that a new era was upon Indian cricket. As a former Under-19 World Cup winner, Kohli was the ideal candidate to lead the team into the future. Looking back on his early days as captain, Kohli admitted that he often felt lost and unsure of what to do. However, he was determined to learn and grow from his experiences, and gradually began to find his way as he navigated the challenges of leading the national team.

"The thing that excited me about Test cricket and when I was coming up as captain was the challenge. We were transitioning when you guys had made way for a youngster team and Mahi bhai left Test captaincy. I was 25, so for me it was like 'I am here with a bunch of 24-25 year-old guys. How do we become household names?' We sat down and thought 'I really need to plan this out. This can't happen by chance'," Kohli told head coach Gambhir in an interview arranged by the BCCI.

"When I started thinking from the point of view where Indian cricket has to be in 7 years' time, the solutions came. We need a group of fast bowlers. We need batters who can bat long. We need to give ownership to five batters and a keeper to get us 350-400. We can't have a seventh option. I remember the challenge excited me. I didn't feel like 'Oh my god! I don't want any part in this'. And that's when I was like I am all in."

Understanding his point of view, Gambhir echoed Kohli's sentiments and credited him for bringing a revolution in Indian cricket. Under the watchful eyes of Kohli, coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun, India assembled a stock of fast bowlers that made picking 20 wickets a norm both home and away. With a five-pronged pace attack comprising Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj, India won consecutive Test series in Australia and gave England a run for their money on their soil. For that, Indian cricket will forever be thankful to Kohli.

"I can understand what you might have gone through. A 24-25 year-old boy taking up Test captaincy and then what you did brilliantly was that you had a really strong bowling unit. Test matches are won by taking 20 wickets. Till the time you don't have a strong bowling line-up, you won't [win]. And that is what made you the most successful Test captain in the country," said Gambhir in reply.

"Credit has to go to you because as a batter it is very easy to have a strong 6-7 batters putting runs on the board but the way you identified and more importantly, the attitude which you brought on the field from fast bowlers. Imagine having people like Shami, Bumrah, Ishant, Umesh and then winning overseas. I remember you playing that knock in Adelaide. We were chasing 400; it was your first game as captain, and you still wanted to win that Test match. That is the mindset, that is the culture we want to bring in."