Indian left-arm spinner Karn Sharma recently opened up about a pivotal moment in his cricketing career, recounting Virat Kohli‘s courageous decision-making during India’s tour of Australia in December 2014. Speaking on Manjot Kalra’s YouTube channel, Sharma shared insights into the bold mindset Kohli exhibited as captain during the intense first Test of the series in Adelaide.
Sharma, who made his Test debut in that match, reflected on how special the occasion was for him and how Kohli’s leadership set the tone for an aggressive approach. The match was Sharma’s first appearance in the longest format of the game, with Kohli captaining the Indian side in the absence of regular skipper MS Dhoni.
“Making my Test debut against Australia in Australia will always remain special. Very few players get that type of start. The dressing room atmosphere was quite good. Ravi Shastri, the coach, was there, and we were all focused,” said Sharma.
He fondly remembered how the team found themselves chasing a daunting target of over 300 runs in the fourth innings on Australian soil, which is known for its challenging conditions for batters.
“It was during this time that Virat made a bold statement, he (Virat Kohli) said, ‘No draw, we are going to chase it down.’ That injected a lot of positivity among the players in the dressing room. It was a different approach, a different kind of energy. Different captains have different styles, but when he said we were going to chase over 300 in the fourth innings of a Test—which is extremely tough in Australian conditions—it sent a wonderful message to the team. It showed that our captain had different plans,” Sharma added.
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Kohli’s fearless leadership shines despite narrow Adelaide defeat
Despite Kohli’s ambitious goal, India narrowly lost the match by just 48 runs. However, Kohli’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. The Indian skipper showcased his class by scoring centuries in both innings of the match—115 runs in the first and a spectacular 141 in the second. Sharma also made his mark on the game, taking four wickets across both innings.
While the result may not have gone in India’s favor, the match is remembered for Kohli’s fearless leadership and his refusal to settle for a draw in difficult circumstances. Sharma’s reflection sheds light on the mindset that has become synonymous with Kohli’s captaincy—aggressive, positive, and always playing to win.
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