Former Sri Lanka international Muttiah Muralitharan believes that Virat Kohli could go on to break Sachin Tendulkar’s batting records.
Currently representing the Kohli- led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the UAE-leg of the IPL, Murali believes his skipper is the most talented player in the world right now and the only man currently playing who can go on to reach the heights of Tendulkar.
The 'little master' represented his country for as many years as Kohli has existed, racking up nearly 16,000 Test runs and over 18,000 in ODI cricket, as well as becoming the first man in history to score 100 international centuries.
“Kohli is the most talented cricketer in the world at the moment if you take his record, considering his age,” said Murali, who should know a little about records having taken 800 Test wickets and accounted for 533 batsmen in ODIs.
“His one-day record is phenomenal: 19 hundreds, 5,000 runs and in Tests it’s good enough but he can improve on that.
“I think if ever somebody was to break Sachin’s record only [Kohli] could do it because his age is right and he can play more and more years if he keeps his head and keeps going he can break records.”
Kohli, 25, is seen as the longterm captain of the India side has some mammoth shoes to follow in the form of the Little Master who is the game’s leading run scorer in history.
While Murali rightly notes Kohli’s Test form as a possible stumbling block, after as many Test matches (24) Tendulkar had scored 1,460 runs at an average of 44.24, including five hundreds.
Kohli, however, has scored a remarkably similar, but greater, 1,720 runs at a better average of 46.51 and has surpassed 100 six times in Tests. Murali sees a similarity on the pitch, but not in each other's demeanour.
“There are different categories because when I saw Sachin he was more consistent and with Virat it is also the same, but they are different personalities,” he added.
On Thursday, Bangalore take on Kolkata Knight riders in Sharjah. RCB will be looking to make it three wins from three to join Kings XI at the top of the standings, while Kolkata are searching for a second win.
Banglore look set to be boosted by the return of Chris Gayle to the crease, who has missed their first two matches with a sore back. It was 12 months this week that Gayle scored his record-breaking 175 not out for RCB against Pune.
