New Delhi: Former India skipper Virat Kohli, who relinquished Test captaincy earlier this month, said “moving on” is also a part of leadership, to understand that “maybe the environment needs a different direction”.
Kohli highlighted that captaincy also has a fixed ‘tenure and time period’ while speaking at a business forum.
Kohli led India in South Africa Test series which the visitors lost 2-1.
“See, I think firstly you need to have a complete understanding of what you set out to achieve and whether you have achieved those targets or not. Everything has a tenure and time period, so you have to be aware of it. As a batter, you might be able to give more to the team, so take pride in that,” he said while speaking on an episode of FireSide Chat.
Kohli took over the reins from MS Dhoni as Indian Test captain in 2015. He has 40 victories in 68 Tests and is India’s most successful captain in the longest format.
“You do not need to be a captain to be the leader. When MS Dhoni was in the team, it was not like he was not the leader, he was still the guy from whom we wanted to have input. To win or not win is not in your hands, the striving for excellence and to be better every day, is not something you can do short term. When it comes to a culture, it will last beyond your playing years and your responsibility.
“To add to that, moving on is also a part of leadership, to understand the right time to do that. To understand that maybe the environment needs a different direction but obviously with the same cultural value. You continue to contribute to the team in the same manner but in a different role.
“I think one has to embrace all kinds of roles and opportunities. I have played under MS Dhoni for a while and then I became the captain, my mindset has been the same all this while. I always thought like a captain when I was just a player in the team. I want to make the team win. I want to be my own leader,” Kohli was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
