Virat Kohli, India's passion-oozing Test captain, recently spoke to The Telegraph on captaincy and related issues. He was candid, as ever, and revealed that he admired Ricky Ponting and Brendon McCullum as leaders.

Monday will, of course, see Virat (26) head to Bangladesh for his first series as India's full-fledged Test captain.

Excerpts...

Q To go back to the MCG, last December, the day Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced he was retiring from Test cricket... When did that hit you?

A When I returned to my hotel room. MS had groomed youngsters, had given me so many chances when I was starting off, many of us had made our careers under him. It was an emotional evening for all of us and I remember having cried.

But there must also have been the realisation that you'd now be India's full-time Test captain...

Yes... I remember Anushka (Sharma, his lady love) was with me... A lot of things flashed by, the times I'd played club cricket, when I'd started off for Delhi, the sudden death of my father... The thoughts became a bit too much, leaving me overwhelmed. I guess that happens when things big and small, which are close to your heart, burst forth at the same time. I'm an emotional and passionate guy.

Was your first call on returning to the hotel to your mother, Saroj?

(Smiles) Actually, to my elder brother Vikas. I then spoke to my mom and bhabhi. That done, I called my coach, Raj Kumar Sharma.

What was Anushka's reaction?

The same as my brother... Shocked at MS's decision, happy for me.

You were the captain when India won the U-19 World Cup in 2007-08... When did you start thinking that you could become the Test captain?

One aims to play for the country, but you don't aim to become its Test captain... Things just work out. I'd been the ODI and T20 vice-captain, so I knew people thought I was responsible enough. The team believes in me and that gives me confidence. You can't have a situation where the team doesn't believe in the captain.

One advantage is that most of the players are young...

Of course. Most are in the same age-group and have been around for about the same number of years. That, for me, is a cause for comfort. It's easy engaging in discussions.

Is there a captain you admire?

Ricky Ponting, who is through with his playing days... Then, in the recent World Cup, I admired the way Brendon McCullum captained New Zealand.

What struck you about Ponting?

Ricky had the belief that whatever he did would work for the team... But, for that to happen, you need the entire team to be on the same page. His strength was that he understood situations.

McCullum?

Ditto... Like Ricky, Brendon understands situations very well and his players respond. In the World Cup, he'd set a field and the bowler would bowl according to that only. One so often saw the perfect situation, which must have given Brendon so much pleasure.

Well, what have you learnt from Dhoni?

MS's biggest strength is his composure. As an India captain, you're bound to face criticism, but MS has handled everything beautifully. Frankly, I haven't seen many others with so much power to absorb things and not react to stuff that goes around. MS has a strong mind, which comes in handy when times are difficult.

You were the stand-in captain in the first Test, Adelaide... Did you sleep well in the lead-up to that match?

The good thing is that we'd already been in Australia for a few weeks and I was comfortable with the team and with the situation... I remember getting my blazer ironed and, on the morning of the Test, I initially forgot to take it with me! After all, that wasn't natural for me. But, once I reached the ground, I felt the excitement when I put on the blazer and wore the Baggy Blue. I looked in the mirror and felt good.

What did you tell your players on the eve of that Test?

I listen to everything that is said, but I do like to speak my mind. The mindset I'd like in all is to win, not just compete. That's when teams play their best cricket. You have to look to win, not merely participate.

Isn't it important that the players be made to feel secure, by the captain and the rest of the team management?

Every series won't be a success for everybody, but not being successful doesn't mean the end of the world. I recall telling my players to back themselves and that must have made them feel secure. I accept that a captain has to make his players feel that way. If you leave them out in the open, all by themselves, it would be difficult for the young ones. Particularly, on a tour of Australia or England. I'd like my players to get a fair opportunity.

Mark Taylor, for one, believes that much of the captaincy comes down to off-the-field leadership...

I felt the same way when we played the ODIs against Sri Lanka, at home, before leaving for Australia... We used to get together regularly... To relax, chill... I also made it clear, before the first ODI (Cuttack), that each one of the players had equal ownership of the team. That each one of them was as responsible as I was. When that is made clear, players think and play differently. A sense of ownership helps teams play well collectively. When I began playing for India (2008), there were a lot of experienced players. That didn't have to be spelt out. When you have a young lot, you need to say that. Bottom line is that you need a good team environment.

Did captaining in the two Tests in Australia - Adelaide, Sydney - teach you something?

Yeah. That a captain can do little when the opposition is batting so well. There's no point getting worked up, for even if your plans are being executed properly, the opposition could still come up with something better. That, then, is challenging. It's not possible for a captain to control everything.

Can we hope to see a calmer Virat as captain?

As I've told you, I don't have to impress people, but I accept that I need to handle some situations better... Staying calm, I realise, will help me make good decisions. At the end of the day, I'll be remembered for the quality of my decisions.

You've been the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain for some years. What's it like captaining an IPL franchise?

It's much easier, really.

Because you have the likes of AB de Villiers in your team?

(Smiles) You'd be foolish if you didn't pick AB's brain. I have so many captains, past and present. They've made my job that much easier.

You've mentioned AB in the context of the Royal Challengers. Within the national team, is there somebody with an especially shrewd cricket brain?

Rohit Sharma. In fact, I've always admired Rohit and have been a fan of his. He's a very intelligent cricketer and a good reader of situations.

Ravi Shastri, the team director, is a huge fan of yours. That must have made it easier for the two of you to bond?

Having Ravi on board after the Test series in England has been the biggest plus. He played his cricket with authority and has been a positive influence. He's there when you need moral support. You know he'll back you and I must add he commands respect.

The final one... Are you impatient to captain India in all three formats?

Oh, no. Even when I captained India in the Sydney Test, I knew I'd be back to playing under MS in the tri-series and in the World Cup to follow. Look, I know where I stand.