Bengaluru: Virat Kohli has become India’s most successful Test captain. He surpassed MS Dhoni to claim the record. While the numbers point to him being the best-ever skipper for the country in terms of winning percentage, a legendary cricketer doesn’t want to go by the statistics.

Also read: Virat Kohli breaks MS Dhoni's record

On Monday (September 2), India whitewashed West Indies 2-0 in Kingston, Jamaica, to take Kohli to the top of the table. Now, Kohli has led India in 28 Test victories, bettering Dhoni’s mark of 27.

Also read: Kohli praises 'complete bowler' Jasprit Bumrah

The Delhi right-hander’s winning percentage is 58.33 (28 wins out of 48), which is the best in India’s history taking into consideration captains who have led in 10 or more Tests. Dhoni’s win percentage was 45 (27 wins out of 60) while Sourav Ganguly's was 42.86 (21 wins out of 49).

However, India’s legendary wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani refused to go by the numbers and still feels Dhoni is India’s best ever Test captain.

Also read: Kohli explains why India picked Jadeja over Ashwin

“In every era there has been a captain with different individuals. When Dhoni was the captain, he succeeded in all the three formats (Test, ODI, T20I) and took the Indian team to the highest level (No. 1). He was acclaimed as the best captain India ever had,” Kirmani told MyNation on Tuesday evening (September 3).

“After that Virat (Kohli) took over. Give him some more time to achieve many more records. You cannot acclaim him as the best Indian captain ever. It is Dhoni who has been acclaimed as the best Indian captain ever, so far. So, Kohli has a long way to go. Easily, five more years are there with Kohli as India skipper,” Kirmani, who played 88 Tests, added.

Also read: Kohli loses top ICC Test Ranking to Steve Smith; Bumrah sets record

Talking about West Indies’ poor performance in the Test series and the decline of their cricket, the 69-year-old said it is a cycle which every team has to go through.

“This is a cycle by itself which falls on an individual and as well as a team. There is a good time for every team and every individual. On that basis, those were the days when West Indies ruled cricket for more than two decades. They were the best team in the world. They were beating every team in the world,” the Bengalurean recalled the domination of the Caribbean side.

Kirmani, who was part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, said they proved that West Indies could be beaten.

“We (India) were the first ones among the Commonwealth cricket nations to beat the West Indies in the World Cup (1983) and gave a huge alarm to entire cricket fraternity. India showed that a weaker team can beat a champion side. The era of West Indies greatness ended after the retirement of legendary cricketers.

“Then the Australians came and dominated. After the retirement of their legends, India took over as the dominant team under Sourav Ganguly to start with and then MS Dhoni. We are suppose to be the best team now. Now, the good luck cycle has fallen on the Indian team. So, there is a time for every team to be on top, and to be at the bottom also,” he said.