Time flies now and three years is no joke. The entire world came to a standstill in three years ever since the pandemic hit. Especially the transition into 2020 from 2019 was bumpy for the entire world and Virat Kohli had an additional aspect going on around him. When the world was grief-stricken, trying to protect its dearest ones, the entire world was changing.
After cricket started taking flight again, rather baby steps, Nathan Lyon challenged Virat saying that the Indian captain was nothing except the crowd. He can be good but won’t be fabulous. Much to Kohli’s surprise things started taking a very ugly turn with the former Indian captain running aground. However, the world changed on 8th September 2022, where Virat Kohli hit his 71st, after waiting for almost three long years.
Many things have changed since Virat Kohli’s 70th and 71st and here are 5 of them:
#1 Team India has tried 7 captains in all formats of the game combined
Riding high on the fever of experimentation, once Virat Kohli stepped down from captaincy, despite Rohit Sharma being handed over the reins of the national team, Team India also opted for 7 captains including Rohit himself to take over the reins of the nation. In fact, such chaotic was the scene that the memes stated that why not allow take the remaining players a shot at leading the contingent.
#2 A new team has lifted the IPL
Not only has IPL expanded to 10 teams from the initial 8 but a newcomer has already lifted the trophy and it is none other than Gujarat Titans. Under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya and the chaperonage of Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten, the Titans braved all the odds, put up a resonating display throughout the tournament and emerged as the victors of the prized franchise extravaganza.
#3 Dinesh Karthik played international cricket, took over commentary, returned to the Indian team and now is running for the World Cup
If there was one man who showcased exemplary transition, it had to be Dinesh Karthik. The man couldn’t showcase his flair in 2019, got axed and was seen doing commentary in 2021 where people ruled him out completely. When RCB picked him up in the 2022 auction, there were many jokes, catcalls and jeers that rained upon him. Proving all of them wrong, he emerged as the Finisher Supreme and then when Team India came knocking he was ready and boy, did he put up a show!
#4 Team India got all out for 36, got up, dusted themselves and then breached Gabbatoir, leaving Australians in shame
If there was one series that should always be talked about it was the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21. India was humiliated in the opener as they were skittled out for 36. However, that Indian team was different. Rahane took over the reins, dusted themselves off and hit back Australia in the very next game. Ashwin and Vihari emerged as the unlikeliest heroes to save India’s skin for a battering 50 hours, crawling through all those rib-breakers, toe-rattlers and the glaring Australian eyes. Come Gabba, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur started tormenting the Australian bowlers and Rishabh Pant drove a thunderbolt right through the heart of the Australians in their own Pantheon, the Gabba, a sacred shrine that was unsullied for 32 years, saw the Indian flag unfurling in all its glory.
#5 Mohammed Siraj and KL Rahul conquered Lords
KL Rahul got his name on the Lords honours board where other batters failed to get the chips going in their way. Playing the English bowlers with absolute impudence, Rahul was at his mesmerizing brilliance, taking England head-on and taking them imperiously to the cleaners. What followed next was the man who tainted Gabba forge another rebellion as Mohammed Siraj laid waste to the prized English batting, scripting history for Team India, a magician who could have very well rubbed shoulders with Harry Houdini they said.
