There have been few batsmen in the history of the game who have broken and created records at the speed that Virat Kohli has done in his 15-year international career. As the Delhi-born cricketer enters the final phase of his India career, he eyes the upcoming World Cup 2023, an ODI World Cup trophy that India last won in 2011, also when the tournament was played at home.
Now, a 34-year-old and the ICC Cricketer of the Decade, Virat Kohli, is being hailed as one of the greatest ever the game has had by former England captain Eoin Morgan.
Morgan, who led England to their maiden ODI World Cup title in 2019 at Lord’s, is now a broadcaster and will be doing commentary duties in the World Cup 2023.
Having faced Kohli a few times in his international and IPL career, Morgan said that Kohli is someone who he wouldn’t want to face in big matches such as in World Cups. Morgan reckons Kohli uses the pressure of the big games to step up to the occasion and plays his best when the stakes are high.
“Virat Kohli is one of the greatest I have seen, if you are an opponent, you don’t want to face him on the big stage like the World Cup – he loves the big stage & delivers for the team, he makes the big occasions count for the team,” Eoin Morgan said on RevSportz.
“He harnesses all the energy and hype around big games and uses it to his advantage.”
Having Virat Kohli makes India contenders in World Cup 2023: Eoin Morgan
This World Cup 2023 is likely to be the last ODI World Cup for the 34-year-old Kohli, who won the 2011 World Cup under MS Dhoni. Morgan believes that having Kohli, who has hit 47 ODI centuries so far, is a big advantage for the hosts India.
“Having the likes of Virat Kohli, who was there in that team in 2011 that won the home World Cup is another advantage. Dealing with the pressure back then, they did really well under the leadership of MS Dhoni and I believe the brilliant leadership that both Rohit and Dravid have, if they manage it, they can be contenders,” Morgan added.
