Virat Kohli's on-field behaviour has always caused controversy and after veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah slammed Kohli, former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani said an Indian captain should be mindful of the fact that he is a role model for billions and act accordingly.
Bangalore: India skipper Virat Kohli’s on-field aggression is always under scrutiny. While the nation is divided over his approach, the legendary Indian wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani has a word for advice for Kohli.
Recently, veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah had slammed Kohli’s behaviour in the ongoing India-Australia Test series Down Under. Shah called the Indian captain “world’s worst-behaved player”.
“Virat is not only the worlds best batsman but also the worlds worst behaved player. His cricketing brilliance pales beside his arrogance and bad manners. And I have no intention of leaving the country by the way (sic),” Shah wrote on his Facebook account.
Shah’s comment triggered a debate in the country. While Kohli got the backing of the majority of the people, there are some who did not support the Delhi batsman’s behaviour.
Now, 68-year-old Kirmani has joined the debate. He, however, did not target Kohli but mentioned that an Indian captain should be “dignified” like Mahendra Singh Dhoni was.
“There has been criticism on Virat Kohli, on his approach, on his mannerisms on the field, which I am sure he is aware of. One cannot say 'I am like this and I will be like this',” Kirmani told MyNation on Thursday.
Kirmani, a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team, spoke to MyNation on the sidelines of VVS Laxman’s autobiography (281 and Beyond) launch event.
When asked about Shah’s comment on Kohli, the former stumper said, “Everybody has his own opinion. Look, you are an ambassador of your country. And you got to be dignified whether on the field or off the field. You got to take a few leaves out of Dhoni's book. Every captain who is going to lead the country, in future, or in present, should take a few leaves out of former captain Dhoni's book and put it into practice.”
When queried specifically about Kohli’s behaviour and whether he needed to change, Kirmani did not mention his name but said all Indian captains should be well-behaved as they are role models.
“I have conveyed it. I have said it very indirectly. It is not about any individual. I am not putting on to any individual directly. The captains, who are going to lead India should follow Dhoni's example because everybody looks for a dignified captain, who has good mannerisms, who could be a role model in all aspects, not only on the field,” Kirmani said.
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