Former India Star Highlights Kohli’s Influence on Indian Cricket
VVS Laxman, former India cricketer and current National Cricket Academy chief, has praised Virat Kohli, describing the former India captain as a “great role model” while highlighting his exceptional professionalism, discipline and commitment to maintaining the highest standards in international cricket.
Laxman’s comments underline the broader influence Kohli has had on Indian cricket, particularly among younger players who have grown up watching the prolific batter compete at the highest level. Beyond his performances with the bat, Kohli has frequently been recognised for his fitness, preparation and demanding approach to the game.
The former India batter believes those qualities have helped establish Kohli as an important figure within Indian cricket and a player whose influence extends beyond statistics and match results.
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Kohli’s Professionalism Stands Out
One of the main aspects highlighted by VVS Laxman is Kohli’s professionalism.
Throughout his international career, Kohli has built a reputation for preparing intensely for matches and maintaining a high level of physical fitness. His approach to training and preparation has also contributed to a broader change in expectations around fitness within Indian cricket.
For VVS Laxman, that commitment is one of the reasons Kohli represents such a strong example for younger cricketers.
Being a successful international player requires more than natural ability. Players must consistently prepare, manage their fitness, understand their roles and maintain concentration through demanding schedules. Kohli’s career has demonstrated how these elements can become part of a long-term professional approach.
His consistency in maintaining those standards has helped shape his reputation both within the Indian team environment and across international cricket.
A Role Model for the Next Generation
VVS Laxman’s description of Kohli as a great role model also reflects the batter’s influence on younger players.
India has a large pool of emerging cricketers, many of whom have grown up following Kohli’s career. His intensity on the field, competitive attitude and commitment to preparation have made him one of the most recognisable figures in modern Indian cricket.
For young players attempting to establish themselves internationally, observing how an established player prepares for matches can provide valuable lessons.
Kohli’s influence is therefore not limited to his batting performances. His approach demonstrates the importance of discipline, consistency and maintaining professional standards over a long career.
The ability to sustain those qualities across different formats and changing phases of a career is particularly demanding in international cricket.
High Standards Have Defined Kohli’s Career
Another important aspect of VVS Laxman’s praise is Kohli’s insistence on maintaining high standards.
From his early years in international cricket, Kohli developed a reputation for demanding excellence from himself. That approach became particularly visible during his time as India’s captain, when fitness, fielding standards and overall intensity became important parts of the team’s identity.
Under Kohli’s leadership, India placed considerable emphasis on physical conditioning and competitive intensity. While several factors contributed to India’s performances during that period, his individual approach became closely associated with the team’s evolving professional culture.
VVS Laxman’s comments suggest that these qualities remain relevant even as Kohli’s role within Indian cricket continues to evolve.
Impact Beyond Statistics
Kohli’s career statistics are among the strongest evidence of his success, but VVS Laxman’s praise focuses on qualities that cannot be measured entirely through numbers.
A player’s influence can also be seen in the habits and standards adopted by teammates and younger generations.
Kohli’s emphasis on preparation, fitness and competitive discipline has influenced how many young Indian cricketers view professional sport. The modern Indian player is increasingly expected to maintain strong fitness levels, prepare carefully and remain capable of handling the physical demands of international cricket.
That cultural shift has been one of the notable developments in Indian cricket over the past decade, something VVS Laxman has also highlighted through his assessment of Kohli’s professional approach.
Experience Adds to Kohli’s Influence
Kohli’s long international career has also given him experience across different conditions and formats.
He has played against leading teams around the world and competed in major international tournaments. His experience includes high-pressure matches in World Cups, bilateral series and other major international competitions.
Such experience can be particularly valuable to younger players entering the international environment, according to the broader perspective shared by VVS Laxman.
Senior players can help newcomers understand the demands of international cricket, from preparation and match awareness to handling pressure and recovering from difficult performances.
Kohli’s longevity therefore gives his example additional importance. Maintaining high standards over many years is considerably more difficult than doing so for a short period.
The Importance of Professional Culture in Indian Cricket
VVS Laxman’s comments also highlight the importance of professional culture within India’s cricket system.
Indian cricket has developed a highly competitive pathway from domestic cricket to the international level. With increasing competition for places, players are required to demonstrate not only talent but also physical readiness and professional discipline.
In such an environment, established international players can have a significant influence on younger members of the setup.
A strong professional culture can encourage players to understand that success is based on continuous improvement rather than individual performances alone.
Kohli’s career provides an example of how sustained effort can complement natural cricketing ability, a quality VVS Laxman believes adds to his standing as a role model.
Kohli’s Legacy Continues to Develop
As Kohli’s international career moves into another phase, discussions around his legacy are likely to extend beyond his batting achievements.
He has already established himself as one of India’s most prominent modern cricketers, but his influence on the professional culture of the team could prove equally significant.
VVS Laxman’s assessment is particularly notable because it comes from another highly respected former India batter who understands the demands of international cricket.
His praise reinforces the idea that Kohli’s contribution should be viewed through multiple dimensions — performances, leadership, preparation, fitness and influence on the next generation.
For VVS Laxman, these qualities help explain why Kohli continues to hold such an important place in the story of modern Indian cricket.
A Lasting Example for Young Cricketers
For aspiring Indian cricketers, Kohli’s career offers several lessons.
Talent may provide an entry point into professional cricket, but maintaining success requires discipline, preparation and the willingness to continually improve.
Kohli’s emphasis on maintaining high standards has been a defining feature of his career. His approach has helped establish expectations around fitness and professionalism that are now deeply associated with modern Indian cricket.
Laxman’s description of him as a great role model therefore reflects an influence that goes beyond the scoreboard.
As a new generation of Indian players continues to emerge, the example set by senior figures such as Kohli can remain an important part of their development.
Kohli’s Professionalism Remains His Major Strength
VVS Laxman’s praise ultimately highlights a central feature of Virat Kohli’s career: his commitment to professionalism.
While records and statistics will remain an important part of his cricketing legacy, the standards he has maintained in preparation, fitness and competitive attitude have helped shape his reputation as one of India’s most influential modern players.
Calling Kohli a “great role model”, Laxman has drawn attention to qualities that extend beyond runs and victories. For younger cricketers, the larger lesson is that sustained excellence depends on preparation, discipline and the willingness to maintain high standards throughout a career.
That influence may ultimately become one of Kohli’s most enduring contributions to Indian cricket.
