'As an individual who likes to see class, not just batting, I like his aggression as a captain.'
West Indies cricket legend Sir Viv Richards believes that if Virat Kohli and his boys can replicate their success of last home season overseas against teams like England and Australia, they will enter the 'great category'.
Richards, famous for his swashbuckling style of batting, also doesn't find fault with Kohli's aggression. In the recent home season, India won 10 of the 13 Tests against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia.
"I think the next level for him and the team after such success, the teams that you need to encounter overseas, would be Australia and England. And if you can do what you have done here... (then) Indian team will be getting (into the) great category," Richards said in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The 121-Test veteran also termed the series against Australia as one of the toughest India faced in recent times.
"It's (India's home season) has been very good, it's a formidable record they have set," he said, praising the team for consistency, and Kohli for leading from the front.
"The last series against Australia was one of the toughest encounters....they (India) came through. It was a remarkable achievement," said the legendary batsman who was a part of the invincible West Indies team of the 1970s.
He also praised Kohli for his aggressive style of captaincy.
"As an individual who likes to see class, not just batting, I like his aggression as a captain. He is going to defend his players at every opportunity and I see nothing wrong in that.
"India must be blessed to have such an individual who is capable of delivering so much, he defends his team every time and that to me is very special," Richards said when asked whether Kohli's aggression is a boon or a bane.
The master batsman claimed has no problem with sledging out in the middle.
"You get a lot...and you give us as much as you get. I see nothing wrong with confrontational side (of sledging). (But) If someone starts playing race card, about someone's colour of skin, (then) that is rubbish in my opinion," he added.
