Virat Kohli, the former captain of India, stands out as the premier cricketer of this era. Holding numerous major records across all cricket formats, the 35-year-old is widely regarded as the most influential player of his generation. His exceptional fitness levels and consistent performance have set him apart in the world of cricket.
Yet, Kohli was absent from the opening Test against England, leading to India’s 28-run defeat. Furthermore, he will be unavailable for the second Test, citing personal reasons.
Michael Atherton Hailed Virat Kohli As The Biggest Superstar
Kohli had joined the Indian team in Hyderabad before the first Test but opted not to take part in an optional training session on Monday. After discussions with Rohit and the team management, he decided to withdraw from the first two Tests.
Former England cricketer Michael Atherton commended Kohli for his cricketing prowess, labeling him the “biggest superstar of the game.”
Speaking on Sky Cricket, Michael Atherton said: “Virat Kohli is the biggest star in the game. No superstar is bigger than Virat Kohli. He’s a magnetic and charismatic cricketer”
During the first Test match, Michael Atherton drew comparisons between KL Rahul’s mindset and Virat Kohli’s. He had said:
“They (England) were fortunate that India’s top order were in a generous mood but the situation at the close was very bad even so, and could have been even worse,” Atherton wrote in his coloumn for The Times. “It is hard to imagine that Virat Kohli would have been as obliging as his team-mates were here, and the biggest culprit was his replacement at No 4, the stylish and gifted KL Rahul, who had a hundred for the taking before hammering a long-hop from Tom Hartley into the deep,”
Kohli is set to rejoin the Indian camp after the third Test, starting on February 19. He is just 152 runs away from reaching the milestone of 9000 Test runs. If he accomplishes this feat, he will join the elite company of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar as the fourth player to achieve such a remarkable milestone.
Virat Kohli becomes the ‘ICC ODI CRICKETER OF THE YEAR’ 🐐 #ViratKohli𓃵
— Mayank Ranjan (@theranjanmayank) January 25, 2024
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