IND vs AUS 2023: Virat Kohli doesn’t want power or leadership, says Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons Virat Kohli doesn’t want power or leadership within the Indian team and he just wants to be on the field for the side. Manjrekar noted that Kohli enjoys his cricket and he is quite similar to Sachin Tendulkar in this aspect.

Kohli led India with great success, especially in Test matches, and took the team to new heights while playing in overseas conditions.

Meanwhile, Kohli recently scored a fine knock of 122 runs off just 94 balls against Pakistan in the Super Fours of the Asia Cup. Kohli added 233 runs with KL Rahul and helped the team post a huge score of 356 runs on the board.

“The one similarity between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar is that both of them enjoy playing cricket. They want to be on the field. He was not part of the team for the game against Bangladesh but was still on the field. I don’t think Virat Kohli wants power or leadership,” said Manjrekar while talking to Vimal Kumar on his YouTube Channel.

Kohli has amassed 13,027 runs in 280 ODIs, 8,676 runs in 111 Tests, and 4,008 runs in 115 T20Is for India and he has been a consistent performer in all three forms of the game.

“He just wants to play and it looks like he enjoys being a part of the team. He captained the team for a very long time, so there is no scope for an unfulfilled dream. Being with the team, travelling with players, going to the ground, and being part of winning moments are more important to him than having power,” Manjrekar added.

Kohli recently scored his 47th ODI century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. The veteran has scored 29 Test centuries whereas Sachin Tendulkar scored 51 Test hundreds in his glorious career. Manjrekar reckons it will be difficult for Kohli to match Tendulkar’s tally in red-ball cricket.

“Sachin Tendulkar has 51 hundreds, 17 more than what Sunil Gavaskar finished with. For a good player, accumulating runs in ODIs is comparatively easy, as bowlers don’t always try to take a wicket. Tendulkar and Kohli are special because they also have a lot of Test hundreds. However, I believe it will be very difficult for Kohli to reach 51 Test centuries,” said Manjrekar.

India will take on Australia in the first ODI at Mohali on Friday but Kohli has been rested for the first two matches.