Virat Kohli should rule world cricket over the next 10 years, provided he doesn't let his attitude get the better of him. (TOI Photo)
Watching young Virat Kohli take Sri Lanka's bowling apart in Hobart on Tuesday, one was reminded of Aristotle's famous line: "Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because youth is sweet and they are growing."
Kohli's strokeplay was indeed intoxicating, his mastery over the Sri Lankan attack complete. It may have come a little too late - nine weeks into a gruelling Australian tour - but he showed the world why he is rated so highly by his peers. And the best thing is, he is still 'growing' - his best yet to come.
It also underlined the quality of talent Indian cricket continues to throw up in spite of a largely non-functional system and a domestic cricket structure that impedes all-round growth of young players, who manage to beat the system.
TALENT IN HIS BLOOD
Kohli's talent, of course, was never in doubt. At 23, he has a World Cup 'double' under his belt. His leadership skills were amply on display in Kuala Lumpur in 2008 when he led India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup and his raw talent found full expression in 2011 when he became the first Indian batsman to score a century on World Cup debut.
In under four years - since making his ODI debut - and just eight months after playing his first Test, Kohli now finds himself occupying the second-most important post in the Indian team. By handing over the vice-captaincy to the dashing Delhiite, the selectors have clearly indicated that they see Kohli as an agent of change in Indian cricket which, in the days of 3G, continues to embrace first-generation wireless telephone technology.
It is hard to refute the selectors' logic, for Kohli certainly has the right credentials to succeedMahendra Singh Dhoni as skipper in all three formats of the game. He is a dynamic, intelligent and versatile young man with an attitude. He is a stand-out young talent who should rule world cricket over the next 10 years - provided he doesn't let his attitude get the better of him.
TEMPERAMENT IS THE KEY
Eyebrows are being raised about fast-tracking him in the road to captaincy, especially at a time when he is beginning to find his feet in international cricket. The selectors are hoping that the vice-captaincy will make Kohli much more responsible and steel his temperament that has been called into question many times in the past.
The selectors are hoping that Kohli, unlike Yuvraj Singh - who was also made vice-captain quite early in his career but failed the temperament test - will cease to be a brat and become a commander of his troops.
An agent of change he may be, but Agent Vinod he is not, for Kohli alone cannot help Indian cricket make the transition from stone age to new age. Fortunately for Team India, there are a number of country-made young guns around to usher in this revolution.
Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Wriddhiman Saha, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Sharma and Irfan Pathan have all tasted their share of success and also experienced heartbreaks, but they still have age on their side to exorcise the ghost of past failures and usher in a new age in Indian cricket where form and fitness would be given equal weightage.
Multi-tasking will be the name of the game and one-dimensional players frowned upon. Emphasis would also be on saving runs and top-quality fielding skills made a pre-requisite for selection to the team.
It may have been harsh on the ears of India's legion of senior cricketers, whose collective fielding skills wouldn't translate into a run saved, but Dhoni was absolutely right in highlighting their sluggish approach to the game. As victory margins get narrower and saving a run assumes as much importance as a run scored, the need to have sprightly young men with strong throwing arms on the field cannot be overemphasised, especially if India are to remain competitive with other top teams like Australia, England and South Africa.
ROAD TO TRANSITION
Even if belatedly, the first step towards transition has been initiated by the selectors. The next step would involve phasing out of senior players who have served Indian cricket with distinction. That will be the hardest part because the issue has to be addressed dispassionately. The problem with Indian cricket fans is that they get so carried away by hero-worshipping that they want their demi-gods to continue for ever.
Unfortunately, even legends have shelf-life and the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan are all past their sell-by date. Successive whitewashes in England and Australia clearly demonstrate that the law of diminishing returns has set in.
Australia have not been able to replace Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne andGlenn McGrath. It is unlikely that they will find a batsman half as good as Ricky Ponting to replace him with.
India, who are struggling to fill the void left behind by Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly, will undoubtedly be poorer without the services of Sehwag, Dravid and Laxman, let alone Tendulkar, who is irreplaceable. But the baton must be passed on to the new generation, for that is the way of life. As they say, the show - and Indian Cricket - must go on.
KOHLI'S SWOT PLOT
Strength: Aggressive, all-round strokeplay, lightning fast in the outfield, ability to deliver under pressure.
Weakness: Can be brash. Wears emotions on his sleeve, which can affect temperament. Remember fingergate?
Opportunities: Easily the most promising of the young Turks in the dressing room. The vice-captaincy is a nod to his potential as a future captain.
Threats: A resurgent Sehwag, a doughty Gambhir can overshadow him and mess up his path to captaincy.
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