“Virat’s style of leadership was not inclusive. Virat’s style of leadership was very exclusive. You become like me then only you will be fit in,” he added.
While comparing Virat’s leadership with Rohit Sharma, Uthappa said: “Rohit’s style of leadership is very inclusive. You stay where you are We will get your game to a certain level.
“I haven’t played under Virat as a captain. But what I have observed is that he is very ‘my way or high way’ kind of captain.
“It’s not like Rohit is not like that but it is how you treat a person.
India’s Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli wait for play to start on day three of the third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia. (AP Photo)
“You have to come to Virat’s level, if you are playing under his captaincy. Be it his fitness, his eating habits whether it was listening, agreeing… all of that had to happen at that standard.
“There are two different kinds of leader. There are leaders who say that this is a standard meet it and then there are leaders who say I will meet you where you are and I will elevate you to the standard where I want you to be.
“That’s the basic difference between Virat and Rohit.
“Both style will work, it will bring result but the impact on the person will be very different.”
Robin Uthappa also said that Virat Kohli had a role in cutting Yuvraj Singh’s career short.
“Take Yuvi Pa’s instance. The man beat cancer, and he is trying to come back into the international side.
“He is the man who won us a World Cup, won us two World Cups for that matter, along with the other players, but played an integral role in helping us win. “Then for such a player, when you become captain, you say his lung capacity has diminished and you have been with him when you have seen him struggle,” he said.
“You have seen him struggle, then when you are captain, yes you have to maintain a level of standard, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Here is a man who deserves to be an exception because he has not just beaten and won you tournaments, but he has beaten cancer. He has beaten the hardest challenge in life in that sense.” Uthappa revealed
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