Kolkata: Virat Kohli has received accolades from the greats like Viv Richards and Imran Khan. But when the original Little Master, Sunil Gavaskar heaps praises on him, it makes a difference because here is this Mumbaikar who has faced onslaughts against the most fearsome of bowlers and yet has never submitted.
With 34 Test centuries, Gavaskar knows what it takes to beat the storm and survive against the strongest of opponents. “Virat Kohli is from another planet. I think he comes from an undiscovered planet,” Gavaskar told NDTV. Kohli with 15 Test centuries is on a roll and the 147 against England at the Wankhede against England, the home ground of the Little Master has only given the Indian Test captain enough points to earn laurels from legends.
And it’s not just about Kohli’s batting, but also his captaincy skills, that have impressed Gavaskar. “As a captain, he is still very young, but he is willing to learn and get better every day,” he said. Team India is in a strong position thanks to the partnership between Kohli and M Vijay and looking at Kohli in 2016, the whole world is lavishing praises on him.
A captain’s knock is what matters and like Gavaskar, who as the Indian captain has had to play to the circumstances, be it in Australia or England, Kohli too has mustered the skills of adaptation. The 221 not out against England by Gavaskar is still fresh in our memories, and when Gavaskar has good things to say about Kohli, one must take it seriously.
If on bouncy tracks, he is aggressive, on benign tracks back home, the Delhi guy knows how to reconcile. Truly and quite justifiably, Kohli has proved to the world that he is set for greatness. And once again, Kohli has risen to the occasion.
But and, but, performances abroad matter and hopefully, Kohli wouldn’t disappoint.