NI Bureau
Former India captain Virat Kohli is unquestionably the premier cricketer of the current era, holding numerous major records across all formats of the game. At 35, he stands out as the most widely followed player of his generation, with his distinctive qualities of fitness and consistent performance setting him apart in the cricketing world.
Despite Kohli’s absence from the first Test match against England, which resulted in a 28-run loss for India, his cricketing prowess has not gone unnoticed. Renowned former England cricketer Michael Atherton showered praise on Kohli, hailing him as the “biggest superstar of the game” and emphasizing his magnetic and charismatic presence in cricket, recognizing him as unparalleled in stature.
Kohli’s commitment to the Indian team was evident when he joined the squad in Hyderabad before the first Test. However, he opted out of an optional training session on Monday and subsequently withdrew from the first two Tests due to personal reasons, following discussions with Rohit Sharma and the team management.
During the first Test, Atherton had previously compared KL Rahul’s mindset to that of Virat Kohli, noting the generosity of India’s top order, especially Rahul, who missed an opportunity for a century. Atherton expressed doubt that Kohli would have been as obliging as his teammates in similar circumstances.
Speculations suggest that Kohli will rejoin the Indian camp for the third Test, scheduled to begin on February 19. With just 152 runs needed to reach the milestone of 9000 Test runs, Kohli is poised to become the fourth player in cricket history, after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar, to achieve this remarkable feat.
Prateeksha Thakur
