Virat has skill to score anywhere, says Waugh
Former Australia captain has said Virat Kohli has the best technique to score anywhere but his real test will come in the tour of Australia later this year.
“He (Kohli) has got the game to survive anywhere, I think he’s got the best technique of anyone in world cricket,” Waugh was recently quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “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,” said Waugh who feels a 12-month ban on Smith has left Kohli the field to dominate.
“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. 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 however said Kohli will be under the pump in Australia. “He’ll be putting a bit of pressure on himself, this (a series win in Australia) will be the feather in the cap if he can pull this off.”
“Steve Smith had an incredible series (in India last year) and made three centuries and scored about 500 runs, and Virat hardly scored a run. So that would have been deflating for him, and he will look to square the ledger when he comes back to Australia.”
YOUSUF’S PRAISE
Former Pakistan batsman Mohammed Yousuf has praised Kohli’s fitness, saying his aggression with the bat is almost similar to that of a fast bowler. Speaking to PakPassion.net, Yousuf said: “I have never seen any Asian cricketer achieve the levels of fitness that Virat Kohli has. He’s the world’s top batsman,” said Yousuf.