After two consecutive defeats in the Test series against South Africa, all the pressure is now on Virat Kohli. Among many others, Graeme Smith has joined the list as he believes that Kohli requires people within the unit that could challenge his ideas in a constructive way.

"When I look at Virat, I think he needs someone in the support staff who can constructively challenge him and help him grow," Smith spoke during an African television network Supersport.

"He has all the capabilities tactically, he knows his own game, he sets the standard in the field for everyone else.”

These words from Graeme Smith come after historian and former member of the BCCI, Ramachandra Guha, wrote a column on similar lines about the Indian captain.

The former South African captain believes that Kohli would be a better leader if he was among people that would “make him think.”

"I think if he had a really constructive person in his environment, who could talk to him, make him think, maybe even challenge him with some different ideas, in a constructive way, not an angry or aggressive way, but make him think, open his eyes to other possibilities, that would make him a really good leader."

Smith was highly praiseful of the Indian star, labeling him as an “outstanding player” that plays with intensity. However, he also stated that Kohli’s over-zealous affects the team negatively some times.

"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.

"[But] often his reaction to situations... I think that can sometimes impact on your team negatively. We all know how powerful Virat Kohli is in world cricket, in Indian cricket. For him, he's built this aura and for him maybe to find a level where he can connect with all his players, to get to a level where can get the Indian team to be as successful as he is, that's something that he, when I watch him, is grappling with."

Finally, the former left-handed opener revealed skepticism surrounding Kohli’s captaincy, mentioning that he isn’t sure as to whether the animated character of Kohli would allow him to be a viable long-term option for the captain’s role.