Steve Waugh and Mohammad Yousuf rate Virat Kohli as best batsman in the world

Sudhir Gupta 16:21 10/08/2018
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  • Legendary Australia captain Steve Waugh and iconic Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf have picked India‘s Virat Kohli as the best batsman in the world.

    While Waugh said Kohli has “got the game to survive anywhere” and “the best technique of anyone in world cricket”, Yousuf said the India skipper “has a fast-bowler’s aggression and mentality even though he’s a batsman.”

    Speaking to Cricket Australia’s website cricket.com.au, Waugh said in the absence of Steven Smith, Kohli is by far and away the best all-round batsman in the world at the moment.

    “He (Kohli) has got the game to survive anywhere, I think he’s got the best technique of anyone in world cricket,” Waugh was quoted as saying.

    “He and AB de Villiers have got the best techniques, and AB de Villiers is not playing Test cricket so that makes him (Kohli) the stand-out player. I think Steve Smith is probably the hungriest batsman but he’s obviously not playing for 12 months, so Kohli really is the premier batsman in world cricket.”

    According to Waugh, Kohli’s desire to perform at the big stage set him apart.

    “And he likes the big occasion. Like (Brian) Lara and Tendulkar and (Viv) Richards and Javed Miandad, and all the great batsmen, they want the big occasion and that brings out the best in their cricket,” Waugh added.

    SUPER FITNESS

    Meanwhile, former Pakistan batsman Yousuf, in an interview to pakpassion.net said that all batsmen should try to emulate Kohli.

    “Virat Kohli is a batsman who I rate very highly. He’s in a different class compared to other batsmen of the modern era. Rohit Sharma, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson are also very high-class batsmen. Whilst these four are a cut above the rest due to their performances and class, it is Virat Kohli who I believe the rest should aim to copy,” Yousuf said.

    “He is the complete package when it comes to batting. His aggression is second to none, it’s as though he has a fast bowler’s aggression and mentality even though he’s a batsman. But what really makes him stand out from the rest is his fitness. I have never seen any Asian cricketer achieve the levels of fitness that Virat Kohli has. He’s the world’s top batsman, he has proven his ability, he has been consistent and he has scored all of those runs not through luck, but due to sheer hard work, determination and dedication.

    “Look at his record and his statistics and those numbers don’t lie, they confirm what a world-class performer he is. But he has also proved that he is mentally tough, he has confidence in his own ability and it’s very rare that he is out for a low score and that is the mark of a great player.”

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