NEW DELHI: Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has heaped reward on Virat Kohli, acknowledging the Indian celebrity’s consistency and longevity in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Talking on The ICC Overview, Ponting — himself one of many highest run-scorers in ODIs — expressed confidence in Kohli’s skill to complete because the format’s all-time main run-getter.
Kohli, throughout his gorgeous century towards Pakistan in Dubai on the ICC Champions Trophy, surpassed the 14,000-run milestone, and is forward of Ponting, who’s fourth with 13,704 runs, within the all-time ODI run charts. With 14,085 runs, Kohli trails solely Kumar Sangakkara (14,234) and Sachin Tendulkar (18,426).
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“He is clearly been a champion participant for an extended, very long time. And notably within the white-ball codecs, the place he is been an unbelievably good 50-over participant,” Ponting stated. “I do not suppose I’ve ever seen a greater 50-over participant than Virat Kohli. Now that he is gone previous me and with solely two forward of him, I am positive he would need to give himself the very best likelihood to be remembered because the all-time main run scorer within the sport.”
Ponting believes Kohli’s health and starvation will play a vital position in his bid to surpass Tendulkar’s 18,426-run landmark, a document many as soon as deemed untouchable. “So long as the starvation’s there — clearly physical-wise, he is most likely as match as he is ever been and works exceptionally laborious on that aspect of his sport,” he added.
Regardless of Kohli needing over 4,000 extra runs to overhaul Tendulkar, Ponting refuses to rule him out. “It is loopy when you concentrate on it, is not it? Simply how good Virat’s been over such an extended time period, but he is nonetheless 4,000 runs behind Sachin. It simply goes to indicate how good Sachin was, but in addition his longevity within the sport,” Ponting stated. “However with somebody like Virat, you by no means write him off. If the starvation’s nonetheless there, then I am by no means going to put in writing him off.”
Kohli’s century towards Pakistan was one other testomony to his brilliance in high-pressure conditions. His unbeaten knock not solely steered India to a six-wicket win but in addition cemented his legacy with extra particular person milestones.
The Indian bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav (3/40) and Hardik Pandya (2/31), restricted Pakistan to 241, guaranteeing a manageable chase. India stumbled early, however Kohli’s unshakable presence within the center, mixed with Shreyas Iyer’s composed 56, helped the Males in Blue get throughout the road comfortably.
