Virat Kohli as captain: Is he a role model?

 Virat Kohli, as captain, brought many qualities to the Indian team, such as fearlessness, aggression, and a focus on fitness, but he also pushed the boundaries of etiquette at times.

A role model, according to dictionary.com, is someone whose behavior, example, or success can be emulated by others, particularly by younger people. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a person whose behavior in a specific role is imitated by others." An example it gives is “athletes should remember they are role models”.

The captain, Virat Kohli, falls into a grey area, whose actions sometimes merit the label of role model, sometimes not, or perhaps he is so consumed by the sport that he forgets. If success is a criterion, he is an example for any cricketer to emulate: 99 Tests, nearly 8,000 runs (at an average of more than 50), and many more to come. With 68 Tests as captain and 40 victories, he is the fourth most successful captain in world cricket history.

However, he was frequently caught engaging in unsportsmanlike, un-captain-like behavior while participating in a sport known for its gentlemanly etiquettes. Earlier this month, he expressed his frustration over an overturned LBW decision in the final Test against South Africa by saying into the stump mic, "Focus on your team while they shine the ball." Not just the adversary. "I'm always trying to catch people." Former India vice-captain R. Ashwin and on-and-off captain K.L. Rahul followed his lead in talking to wood.

Kohli's behavior prompted former opener Gautam Gambhir, who is far from a model of refined manners, to label him immature."“It’s worst for an Indian captain to say like this in stumps. By doing this you will never be an idol to youngsters,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.

Since Kohli took over as Test captain in 2014, when M.S. Dhoni stepped down in the middle of a series in Australia, India has risen to the top of the ICC (International Cricket Council) rankings, won two series in Australia, and lost only five of 24 Test series, including this month in South Africa. The victories and ranking aided in some ways the revival of Test viewership in India, thanks in part to Kohli's energy and passion on the field.

However, his desire for success was sometimes accompanied by rage, with emotions overpowering reason and responsibility. He was charged under the ICC's Code of Conduct for using an obscene gesture during the Sydney Test in 2012, for example, and was later fined half of his match fee.

Kohli's strategy for the Indian team as captain revolved around reliance on pace bowling, cultivating players such as Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav, among others. He instilled in the team fearlessness, the ability to not be intimidated by powerful teams and individuals, and the ability to pursue victories single-mindedly.

However, his in-your-face aggression had unintended consequences. Kohli and coach Anil Kumble did not get along, which led to the latter's resignation in 2017. In multiple confrontations, he faced Australia's Steve Smith, Tim Paine, and England's James Anderson, among others."You swearing at me again, are you? This isn’t your fu**ing backyard,” was one of his taunts aimed at Anderson.

Kohli changed his focus on fitness fairly early in his career, which was a significant contributor to his success as a batsman. He experimented with diets, sushi, and veganism to become leaner and stronger. It rubbed off on his teammates, with several teammates, including Rishabh Pant, crediting him for their interest in fitness, as well as influencing his social media followers.

Kohli's over 46 million Twitter followers see him as a "proud husband and father." His 180 million Instagram followers see him as a father, fitness enthusiast, and businessman. When a cricket fan told him a few years ago that Kohli was overrated and that he preferred watching English and Australian batsmen, the 34-year-old responded by telling him to live somewhere else, but not in India. Kohli later apologized for his comments.

One of the reasons for Kohli's resignation as Test captain could have been his lack of centuries—none in 15 matches over two years—which is considered a batting failure. However, his last ten innings have resulted in scores of 7, 55, 50, 44, 0, 36, 35, 18, 79, 29—not necessarily symbols of struggle, but perhaps of durability. Despite his batting woes, he has not relented in his aggression or desire to win, as evidenced by the Dean Elgar incident in South Africa.

Following his announcement to relinquish captaincy, several brands that Kohli endorses expressed their support. "He has inspired and will continue to inspire everyone passionate about cricket and even those who aren't," said Abhishek Ganguly, managing director of PUMA India and Southeast Asia, in a statement. "His prolific work ethic and leadership qualities have inspired many," said Abhishek Madhavan, SVP - Brand Marketing, Mobile Premier League (MPL). His brand value, as just another teammate, is unlikely to change shortly.

That could be because, when the rage, outbursts, and petulance are removed, Kohli possesses qualities that have catalyzed Indian cricket, adding many new dimensions to it. "You need to have a vision and stick to it," he once said. When others do not believe in you, you must believe in your vision, that you have been entrusted with a responsibility, and that things will turn out well. It's not always about the outcomes, but about whether you left the place you came from a better place than when you arrived."

He has left Indian cricket in a better position as captain. Just make sure that when you show Kohli's videos to aspiring young cricketers, they are well-edited and, ideally, on mute.