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Instant stardom and challenges that lie ahead
In Virat Kohli, has India discovered an explosive batsman who can lend India’s middle-order the solidity and spine which will make it an even harder team to beat? Pradeep Magazine writes.
Dreamy eyes combined with a mischievous look give his face a value which can become a household brand one day.
He has the talent to become the next superstar of Indian cricket.
In Virat Kohli, has India discovered an explosive batsman who can lend India’s middle-order the solidity and spine which will make it an even harder team to beat?
In the era of instant stardom, it is easy to catapult any young man into a league which should be the preserve of a few who have proved their merit over a long period.
And it is easier to swiftly condemn, if success is followed by a few failures.
Where is Robin Uthappa today? There he was, smashing the fastest bowler over his head into the stands and grinding the ball to pulp.
A few failures later, suddenly the world discovered a brash temperament and a back-foot shuffle which was no good at the international level. The superstar in the making vanished from our imagination as swiftly as he had arrived on the horizon.
Suresh Raina was to be our next Tendulkar. Sharp reflexes, swift movement in the outfield combined with a superb timing with the bat, made him a likely contender. Till the world discovered his inability to handle the short ball.
Even on flat surfaces, Raina struggles the moment the ball jumps above waist. He is battling on, bullying the bowlers on placid tracks but no longer being talked about as the chosen one.
Raina’s energetic presence in the field is infectious and lifts the team’s fielding and there is time for him to work on his dislike for the bouncing ball. Unlike Uthappa, he is making his presence count and could still become a permanent part of Dhoni’s team.
That brings me back to Kohli. He has been there for long enough for people to make some sort of judgment. He does appear to have sound technique and nimble footwork which should help him counter adverse conditions.
He does not lack confidence and walks with the air of a man who believes he belongs. But the road to stardom is littered with pitfalls, not the least of which is getting carried away by glamour, fame and riches which the world bestows on the successful ones.
Kohli needs to look at his teammate Gambhir and learn how to remain sane and focus on the game.
Gambhir should be an example to all young talent in India that skill needs to be backed not just by the desire to excel, but also by steadfast concentration in honing them.
For, it is only because of their skills that they get so much fame.
