"He changed the way Team India plays cricket": Nasser Hussain on Virat Kohli

Following Virat Kohli`s Test retirement, former England captain Nasser Hussain said that the 36-year-old completely changed the way Team India plays cricket.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, “We know Indian cricket fans, and the game means so much to them. They want their captain to show them what it means to the team, and no one embodied that passion for cricket in India more than Kohli. He was an unbelievable player. He took India to No. 1 in the world, and they stayed there for about 42 months. He completely changed the way they play cricket. Whoever takes on that mantle has got something to live up to,” said Hussain.

Further, the former English cricketer said that he has been a fan of Kohli for over 14 years.

Also Read: “I`m gutted we won`t see Virat Kohli in England this summer”: Michael Vaughan

“I have been a massive Virat Kohli fan over the last 14 years – his stats speak for themselves – but he was so much more than that. It was his aura, swagger, and passion,” he added.

The Indian concluded his Test career with 123 games and scored 9,230 runs. He also had 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the longest format of the game. The veteran also led India to 40 wins out of the 68 Test matches as captain.

The 57-year-old further praised Kohli by saying he is the ultimate winner and doesn`t want to be a normal cricketer.

“He is the ultimate winner, he sees the end goal as a win, and he is desperate for that. Everything for Kohli is about winning. Why do you think he`s so good in run chases? He can`t go on the field and not be a hundred per cent, he can`t ever go: `I`ll just do my best today.` That may have formed part of his retirement decision, he doesn`t want to be a normal cricketer, just doing a little bit here and there. He made India into the force they are today,” Hussain concluded.

Team India will now lock horns against England for the five-match Test series, starting from June 30. The Indian think tank is yet to decide the appointment of their new Test skipper and will miss the services of Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day