Virat Kohli- India's Next No. 4

"If possible, we will omit the No. 4 position. Our batting order will be like one, two, three, five, six, seven and then we’ll play till 12"
This statement was made by M.S Dhoni as he addressed the media before departing for a daunting tour of South Africa. Though this statement was light hearted, it highlighted the enormity of task facing India-Filling the void left by the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. He had been the cornerstone of Indian batting for more than two decades and with tours of New Zealand, Australia and England lined up over the next few months, the team needed someone to step up and it was Virat Kohli who took on the challenge and yet again delivered.
He was earmarked for greatness ever since winning the Under-19 World Cup in 2008.He made his debut soon after and impressed one and all .Though there never was any doubts about his talent but his temperament was questioned.  He was labelled brash, arrogant and sometimes criticised for his over aggressive demeanour. But over the years he has allayed all those fears, plundering runs all over the world and transforming into a complete batsman. His breakthrough year came in 2010 when he scored around 1000 runs in a calendar year and continued his form in 2011 by scoring a century in his first ever World Cup match against Bangladesh.
While his reputation grew, it was built on success in One Day Cricket .Due to the presence of Fab Four, he had to wait till 2011 to get his chance in Test cricket. After failing to impress in his debut series against West Indies, Kohli faced a daunting trip to Australia. On a daunting tour where India’s senior batsmen struggled for runs, he was the lone shining light. After a hard fought fifty in Perth, he scored his breakthrough hundred, a calm composed innings in Adelaide which proved he belonged at the highest levels in both forms of the game. While he motored along in ODI cricket his performances in test cricket though decent never quite reached those levels.
But with Sachin’s retirement, he suddenly was the most experienced campaigner in a young, untested batting line up. And they faced a formidable task against the No. 1 side in their den where India have traditionally been poor performers. After a woeful display in the ODI, people expected more of the same against Steyn and co on a spicy pitch at Johannesburg. Put in to bat India lost their openers for not much. When Kohli walked in at no. 4, the situation was crying out for a hero and he delivered with aplomb. The maturity he showed during his 2 imperious knocks at Wanderers was beyond his age. In first innings he reigned in his natural attacking instincts and left everything outside off stump while still scoring at a fair clip and in second innings he turned it on when India needed to set a target. They were the kind of knocks which would have made the previous occupant at number 4 proud.
After a terrific start to his stint at no. 4, the inevitable comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar have already begun. What people don’t realize is that whenever a great player retires, he leaves a uniquely shaped hole. No two players will exactly be the same, and team needs other players to step up to fill up that hole. Kohli has done that in his first chance and he has technique, temperament and skill to succeed at no.4. But it’s still early days and stern tests lie ahead. The onus is now on him to step up and make the position his own. After winning the World Cup, he articulately said- “Sachin has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time we carried him. “.  Perhaps fittingly it has fallen on Kohli’s shoulder to carry forward the legacy of Little Master.