An intriguing comparison between Virat Kohli's fiery on-field character and Amitabh Bachchan's iconic "angry young man" roles that typified Bollywood in the 1970s was made by former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar. Known for his combative style on the field, Kohli never shied away from taking on opponents and consistently applied pressure.
India took an aggressive approach to Test cricket under his leadership, winning a historic series in Australia, posing serious challenges in England and South Africa, and fostering the notion that the team could win anywhere in the world.
According to Bangar, Kohli's fiery demeanour was not merely a show; rather, it was a true representation of his character, evoking the ferocity and defiance that typified Bachchan's "angry young man" period in Bollywood throughout the 1970s.
“Virat Kohli has a natural character, like brash, in your face, and that was his natural character. A natural character always feels right. Why did Amitabh Bachchan's films work in the 1975-1980 era? It was because there was this thought of an angry young man, and in the Indian society, anger was somewhere simmering,” Bangar said on DD Sports.
The former coach believes that Kohli's assertive style came at a pivotal time for Indian cricket. The squad experienced a leadership and identity crisis after the retirement of the "Fab Four": Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar. Bangar emphasized that in order to bring in a new period of passion and competition, Indian cricket needs a new voice.
“Indian cricket needed some aggression because our fabulous four had retired, and Kohli had to take cricket forward, which he did in his own style. He changed India's image completely in how they approach Test cricket,” Bangar added.
After playing 123 games over his 14-year red-ball career, Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this year. Since Sachin Tendulkar's retirement in 2013, he has become India's most impressive batsman. He made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies.
At a Test batting average of 46.85, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs, including 30 hundreds and 31 half-centuries. With 40 Test victories, he was also India's most successful captain and led the team in 68 Test matches.
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