MUMBAI: Australian fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath believes India’s flamboyant batsman and Test skipper Virat Kohli is the right person to lead the team and his aggressive approach both on and off the field is a positive sign as long as he is scoring runs.
“I think it is a positive. Because you want a leader who is strong, who wouldn’t take a backward step, who would lead by example. But you don’t want to go too far or go overboard crossing the line,” McGrath, who is on a three-city tour as Hardy’s brand ambassador for Sula Selections, said in an exclusive interview on Monday.
“I think Virat has held himself in good control at the moment. I like the way he has gone about it. He can back it up with runs with the bat. He is a class batsman as well. Being aggressive is one thing and can’t back up is another, but Virat can back it up. I think India are in good hands moving forward with him as a leader.”
The retired fast bowler who claimed 563 wickets in 124 Tests and 381 scalps in 250 ODIs took over as the coaching director of the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai in 2012 from fellow Aussie pace bowling great Dennis Lillee.
Speaking on the current young Indian bowling line-up comprising pacers Varun Aaron, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Ishwar Pandey, McGrath said he is impressed with the present lot and hopes they continue performing even better.
“I am impressed with the way they go about it. I always say skill take you so far, attitude will take you the rest away. The attitude of the boys there is second to none. Varun Aaron bowls close to 150 kmph, swings the new ball. I think Varun has got a big future. Iswar Pandey is on the verge of making it into the team. He is doing good and other guys also are doing well,” he said (IANS)
