“Virat Kohli went one step ahead of MS Dhoni” - Ex-Indian cricketer heaps praise on former Indian captain

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has heaped praise on the former Indian captains, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, for their exceptional captaincy record at home in the longest format of the game. 

Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Kaif asserted that Kohli went one step ahead of Dhoni for instilling aggression into his players and telling his bowlers to take 20 wickets in Test cricket. 

For the unversed, Kohli captained Team India in a total of 68 Tests from 2014 to 2022, winning 40 games. However, he hasn't lost a single Test series at home. Moreover, he emerged as the first Indian captain to register a Test series win in Australia.

"Virat Kohli went one step ahead of MS Dhoni. When India was in trouble, his aggression stood out and told the players to play to take 20 wickets, else don’t come to the ground. That was his message to the players. Under Kohli. India lost only two Tests in seven years in 31 matches. His motto was also to keep the core and backed the pace bowlers fully. He backed the pacers fully overseas but even at home he utilized Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. He made plans according to the opposition,” Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

"For instance, if there’s Afghanistan, then pace bowlers will be used. South Africa had toured before when Kohli was captain. India didn’t even give them an inch and they lost so badly. When conditions favoured spin, he exploited it well by using the spinners. That was Kohli’s speciality – backing the spinners and pacers according to the conditions. That’s why both players made excellent captains," he stated.

Notably, India suffered two consecutive home Test series whitewashes to a SENA nation at home to New Zealand and South Africa. While they suffered a 0-3 Test series defeat to New Zealand last year, they bagged a 0-2 drubbing to South Africa in November 2025.

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