Ex-S. Africa captain Graeme Smith questions Virat Kohli's leadership credentials

Johannesburg, Jan 23 (Cricketnmore) Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has raised fingers at India skipper Virat Kohlis leadership credentials, asking if he really is the right choice for captaincy in the longer run.

"At the end of this year, he'd have been away from home for a while, the pressure he'll face, the scrutiny from the press -- I know he only gets that in India -- but if you're away from home and you're struggling for form as a team, I don't know if I'd want to burden Virat Kohli with that... Or if India have a better leader in that environment," he added.

Smith further said there should be someone in the Indian support staff who could challenge Kohli constructively.

"When I look at Virat, I think he needs someone in the support staff who can constructively challenge him and help him grow.

"He has all the capabilities tactically, he knows his own game, he sets the standard in the field for everyone else. We all know he's an outstanding player, his intensity really benefits his own personal game, he loves that confrontation, that intensity brings the best out of him," Smith said.

"Sometimes as a leader you've got to consider how you impact the others in the environment, that's an area of his leadership that he needs to grow. You can see he's often at his players. He's very aware, he's focus on the game is on, sweeping or mid-on," he added.