Virat Kohli or Steve Smith? This debate is one of the most famous ones in contemporary cricket and many have shared their opinions on the same. A lot of them believe both are equally great and cannot be compared as such. But Kevin Pietersen has a clear choice between the two living legends of cricket.
“Smith doesn’t come close to Kohli”
There is a section of people who believe Kohli has supremacy in the limited-overs but in case of traditional Test cricket, Smith is a better answer for the bowler. Even in the current ICC Test rankings, Smith tops the list and in the ODI Kohli sits at the top with Smith not even getting chance in the top ten.
Kevin Pietersen is not like others and knows his point well while choosing between these two. Former England batsman during a chat with former Zimbabwe cricketer and current commentator Pommie Mbangwa picked Kohli over Smith and claimed that the Aussie start does not even close to Kohli. “Kohli, hands down. Freakshow. His record chasing, winning games for India with the amount of pressure he consistently lives under, Smith doesn’t even come close.”
Kohli over Tendulkar for Pietersen
The host Mbangwa then asked Pietersen to choose between Kohli and the batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar. Pietersen proved his loyalty towards Kohli and yet again chose the Indian skipper. He said, “Again Virat because of his chasing numbers. His chasing numbers are frightening. He averages 80 in chases, all his one-day hundreds come when chasing. He consistently wins games of cricket for India. He just keeps on turning the numbers, chasing, chasing, chasing.”
Pietersen then explained that Kohli’s ability to win matches for India impresses him. “That’s what drives me. My man of the match performances. It was not the way that I played or how I played. How many man of the match performances and how many games that you win for England. And he does that for India. Unreal numbers” added Pietersen.
