In the last few years, there has been a debate in the cricketing fraternity about who the best batsman of the modern era is. The quartet of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, popularly known as the Fab Four, top the debate. But in the past year or two, Kohli has sailed notches above the rest. The former Australian captain Ian Chappell also seems to believe that the Indian captain is miles ahead.
Kohli is regarded as the best batsman across all 3 formats. But his ODI record is unbelievable. From 219 matches, he has accumulated 10385 runs so far at an average close to 60. The right-hander has already slammed 39 hundreds at the age of 30. There is plenty left in his career and it’s daunting even to imagine what he can still achieve.
Ian Chappell in awe of Kohli
Since Kohli’s rise, he has repeatedly been compared to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Ian Chappell believes if Kohli can continue batting with this form, he would easily surpass Tendulkar. The former Indian great has 49 ODI centuries to his name. Kohli is just 11 centuries shy of going past the legend.
“Kohli reminds me of Richards in his approach to ODI batting; he eschews fancy shots and relies on a wide range of traditional strokes … As the only one of this quartet still playing ODIs, Kohli already heads some important statistical categories,” Ian Chappell wrote in his column in ESPNCricinfo.
“If he were to continue at his current rate – an unlikely outcome as he ages – he would pass Tendulkar’s aggregate with more than one hundred innings to spare and nearly 20 centuries in advance of the Little Master.
“If he even came close to achieving these amazing feats, there could be no argument: Kohli would be the Sir Donald Bradman of ODI batsmen.”
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