'Virat Kohli is the Greatest Indian Batsmen': Navjot Sidhu Explains Why Superstar is Ahead

Virat Kohli (left) and Sachin Tendulkar. (PTI Photo)

Virat Kohli is certainly among the finest batters to have played the game. The modern great has raised the bar with his surreal consistency across formats and supreme fitness, becoming an icon.

After Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli can arguably be regarded as the best batter to have emerged from India. The jury is still out though on the greatest batter in history with several candidates staking their claim right from the the legendary era of Sir Don Bradman to today.

Former India star Navjot Singh Sidhu rates Kohli as the greatest Indian batter simply because of the fitness level that he has maintained despite entering mid-thirties.

“I would rate Kohli as the greatest Indian batsmen for the simple reason, his fitness, he is getting fitter with age like old wine does. Technically very sound and he has the uncanny knack of adapting to all three formats, same goes for Rohit (Sharma),” Sidhu told news agency PTI.

Both Kohli and Rohit, after a 13-month absence, made their return to India’s T20I setup earlier this year in January.

Sidhu feels that India will be needing both Kohli and Rohit at the 2024 T20 World Cup slated to be played in June this year.

“They will be needed there. These are giants of cricketing world. Form is like the morning dew, it can elude you but class of these people has stamp of authority,” he said.

“Both are quality players. I am not sure about Rohit’s fitness levels. With age you tend to slow down, your reflexes tend to go. (Virender) Sehwag with those glasses, his reflexes were not the same, I saw it in the IPL,” he added.

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A host of players, Indian and overseas, will be aiming to make an impression in the IPL 2024 to brighten their chances of making the cut for the T20 World Cup.

“The IPL will set the tone for the World Cup. There is no other cricket happening. The eyes of the world are on IPL. This is where you can snatch a berth for the T20 World Cup, not only Indians, even the foreign players,” Sidhu said.

Sidhu also pointed out how one bad day ended India’s ODI World Cup dream last year despite them entering the final unbeaten.

“In the recent World Cup they were playing very well, they just had one bad game, one bad game cannot asses the fortunes of a team. I see the Indian team ruling the roost for a long time because the system that breeds cricketers is very congenial and conducive,” he said.