Kohli's Captaincy Secret: Dinesh Karthik Reveals How Leadership Ignited Star Batsman's Performance, Sees Parallels with Gill

Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has shared insights into a conversation he had with Virat Kohli regarding the impact of Test captaincy on his batting. The discussion took place before the start of the Edgbaston Test in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Shubman Gill batting during the second Test match.

Karthik revealed that Kohli believed captaincy brought out the best in him as a batsman. He highlighted how the added responsibility positively influenced his approach to batting.

"I met him a few days ago and we were just chatting generally. And this topic about captaincy came up," Karthik said on the Sky Cricket podcast.

Kohli reportedly told Karthik, "People think I'm a great Test cricketer and I enjoyed my Test batting — which I did. But the fact is that me getting my captaincy was the best thing to happen to my batting."

Karthik drew a parallel between Kohli's experience and the recent comments made by India's new Test captain, Shubman Gill.

"Why I'm saying that is the same line was used by Shubman Gill as well," Karthik explained.

Gill apparently told Karthik, "I used to bat differently. But now, after I've got captaincy, I almost, when I'm batting, think this is what my team requires — rather than me wanting to do something individually as a batter — which I thought, wow."

Karthik emphasized the significance of Gill's mindset, stating, "Now, this is something the world of cricket has to take notice of, because here's a man who has the appetite, who has the skill, who's got the technique."

He further added, "But now he's got the mindset as well that says, I'm a captain. I'm going to lead from the front, lead off the front foot. And we saw that in the last Test match."

Karthik expressed optimism about Gill's future as a Test captain. "I'm sure there are going to be a lot more Test matches for us to observe him. But it looks like he's on the right path."

The five-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1.