Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Virat Kohli is a genius, best batsman in the world: Miandad

- HT Correspond­ent

MUMBAI: Virat Kohli has left cricket fraternity in awe with his prolific run scoring ability in all three formats of the game. Kohli, who scored his 34th ODI hundred to fashion India’s win against South Africa in Cape Town on Wednesday, keeps on receiving high praise from both present and past cricketers from across the world.

The latest to join the club of Kohli admirers is Javed Miandad, former Pakistan cricket team captain and one of the legends of the game. Miandad, who was known for an aggressive brand of cricket during his playing days, declared Kohli as the best batsman in the world during an interview with pakpassion.net. “Kohli is a genius who is the best batsman in the world,” he said.

Underlinin­g the importance of having a right technique to become a great batsman, Miandad attributed Kohli’s remarkable success to his correct batting technique and ability to adapt to different conditions and bowlers.

“In Virat Kohli’s case his batting method is what allows him to score runs not just once but almost every time he comes in to bat. If a batsman’s technique is bad, he can put some runs on the board once in a while, but he will not be able to do that consistent­ly which is exactly true in Kohli’s case.

To me the mark of a great batsman, like Kohli is the fact that he can vary his technique by quickly understand­ing the strengths and weaknesses of the bowlers,” he said.

With a tally of 34 hundreds in ODIS, Kohli is behind only Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries.

Considerin­g he is only 29 looks good to play for the next sixseven years, Kohli seems all set to break the master’s record. Kohli has also scored 21 hundreds in Tests. At present, he is the only batsman in the world who averages 50 plus in all three formats of the game.

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