(PTI Photo)
On August 18, India’s batting icon Virat Kohli reached a remarkable milestone—16 years in international cricket. This achievement not only underscores his immense talent but also highlights his commanding presence in the sport.
Since his debut, Kohli has consistently impressed both fans and critics alike. Former Pakistan cricketer and coach Basit Ali has expressed admiration for Kohli’s enduring career and outstanding fitness. Ali likens Kohli’s exceptional dedication to that of cricketing legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Saeed Anwar, Javed Miandad, and Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel: “It is a great achievement. Not just 16 years; he will play for 3 more years. He will play for 19 years. He is very super fit. And dedication. Look at Virat Kohli. This is called dedication. Sachin, Anwar, Javed, Inzamam, Gavaskar, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan played for so long because there was dedication.”
The former Pakistan selector mentioned that Kohli’s relentless hard work has been crucial to his success, saying: “Today’s kids say Babar Azam hits a cover like this. Virat Kohli hits like this. They have practiced so much before hitting, and that’s why they perfectly play in the match.”
MS Dhoni’s support was key for Kohli – Basit Ali
Additionally, Basit Ali emphasized that Kohli’s success is a direct result of his relentless hard work, which has allowed him to dominate the cricket world for 16 years since his Under-19 debut. His immediate impact on the game has been sustained, with significant contributions from senior players like MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh playing a crucial role in his journey.
Basit also highlighted a notable difference between Indian and Pakistani cricket cultures, pointing out that Indians tend to support their young talent, whereas Pakistanis are often hesitant to do so out of fear of losing their positions to emerging players.
Regarding whether Kohli deserves the title of “king” of cricket, Basit acknowledged Kohli’s extraordinary skill and influence but suggested that the title might not align with Kohli’s perspective. Ali remarked that while Kohli’s passion for the game is unmatched, cricket itself should be seen as the ultimate ruler, noting that even legends like Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar were not dubbed “kings.”
Basit Ali signed off by saying, “I think even Virat will feel bad. If he is told that you are the king, he will say, Don’t call me king. Because there is no one greater than cricket. Cricket is the biggest thing. He will not love this sentence. He will love talking about his runs and batting. I will not say king.
Because even Don Bradman, Gavaskar, and Sachin were not also called kings. So, I think Virat Kohli is not the king. He is a great batsman. At the moment, he is the greatest batter.”
