I will not change my aggressive leadership style, says Virat Kohli | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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I will not change my aggressive leadership style, says Virat Kohli

IANS | By, New Delhi
Jun 04, 2015 08:35 PM IST

Kohli said that while he wants to not let go of his emotions easily while on the field, he is keen on retaining his aggressive leadership style.

India's Test cricket team captain Virat Kohli says he will not change his leadership style even if anyone asks him to.

MS-Dhoni-and-Virat-Kohli-celebrating-after-India-won-the-match-and-the-series-against-New-Zealand-on-the-fourth-day-of-their-second-test-cricket-match-in-Bangalore-Photo-by-Gurpreet-Singh-Hindustan-Times
MS-Dhoni-and-Virat-Kohli-celebrating-after-India-won-the-match-and-the-series-against-New-Zealand-on-the-fourth-day-of-their-second-test-cricket-match-in-Bangalore-Photo-by-Gurpreet-Singh-Hindustan-Times

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has reportedly urged the 26-year-old to have a thick skin, much like Kohli's predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who quit Tests after the third test match against Australia in December 2014.

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"I will never change myself for anyone or because anyone wants me to change. It is just these small things that I need to improve on, but that instinct of being aggressive as a captain will remain," Kohli was quoted as saying by cricketmonthly.com on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old also queried why he is being compared to Dhoni and other former captains after just a handful of games as skipper.

"Why make comparisons? I am a different character. I am a different personality. But yes, there are some things that stay consistent in captaincy throughout the world. Not being too expressive, having a thick skin, absorbing what is going on in the game," he said.

Kohli said he would surely want to improve upon not letting go of his emotions easily while on the cricket field.

"There is no point giving away what you are thinking to the opposition, who can gain unnecessary advantage. I understand that.

"One of the keys to being a good captain is not letting your emotions come on to your face when you are leading the side in the field. That is one of the most important things, which I want to improve on," he said.

Asked if Test cricket is in safe hands with so many young captains now around the world, the prolific middle-order batsman said, "Test cricket around the world is in safe hands as long as teams are willing to compete and have a result out of a game. It is as exciting as you want it to be.

"It is as boring as you want it be -- you can score 80 runs in four hours but what is the point? I certainly believe in going for that victory, even if it means that you have to literally struggle in the end to get a draw.

"But give yourself a chance at least. That is when it gets exciting. In all four Test matches in Australia we had brilliant crowds because they knew we want to play a brand of cricket that is entertaining to them over a period of time," he said.

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