Ajit Agarkar, chairman of selectors, acknowledged that Virat Kohli’s fitness regimen has had a widespread impact on Indian cricket, contrasting it with MS Dhoni’s intuitive approach in a sport where data and analytics have long been embraced. Despite being 35, Kohli remains unmatched in his fitness levels, continually setting the standard for others. Emphasised on Kohli’s example, he said, “You look at guys like Virat (Kohli), he is one of those guys who set the benchmark. 10-15 years into his career, he has only got fitter, you can see the results. If someone like him sets an example and puts forward certain things that you need or certain fitness levels that you need, gradually it progresses across the ecosystem.
Kohli’s outstanding form in the ongoing IPL, marked by numerous centuries and leading the run charts, exemplifies his dedication to fitness and performance. Meanwhile, Dhoni’s exceptional instincts have guided him to win five IPL titles.
The former India cricketer felt that artificial intelligence cannot be a substitute to someone like Dhoni whose captaincy instincts are incredible.
“The amount of data that’s available, is incredible. You can plan a whole innings and I think everybody does it now, but it doesn’t mean it will work all the time. You need a captain on the ground because not everything that you’ve planned is going to go your way,” he said.
“On a particular day it might, but most days it won’t. And that’s where you need human instinct. That’s why you call MS Dhoni a great captain because he had a feel for the game. He knew what was happening and how the game was changing,” opined the 46-year-old former India pace bowler.
Regarding talent identification in the IPL, Agarkar highlighted the tournament’s significance in uncovering players with strong temperament. He stressed that performing consistently under pressure in high-stakes matches separates exceptional players from the rest. Despite the challenges of evaluating numerous players, Agarkar emphasized the importance of temperament in player selection.
Agarkar emphasized the importance of team cohesion, stating that a united team often leads to success. While not every player needs to be best friends, he emphasized the value of enjoying each other’s successes to foster a supportive team environment.
