Not even Sachin Tendulkar could do what Virat Kohli has done: Shane Warne
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 IST
NEW DELHI: Legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne has singled out Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers as the two standout batsmen across formats from the current generation and says the India captain has achieved what even legendary Sachin Tendulkar could not.
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Warne was speaking in context of successful ODI chases in which Kohli has hit 19 centuries – two better than Tendulkar. Overall, Kohli is the second in the list of most ODI hundreds behind Tendulkar (51) with 35 centuries to his name.
"I think the way Virat plays and you look at his numbers and it's uncanny how many times he has got hundreds in ODI cricket chasing totals down. I don't think anyone, not even Sachin could do what Virat's done," Warne was quoted as saying by India Today on Monday.
Warne regards Tendulkar and Brian Lara as the two best batsmen of his playing days. And among the current crop of players, he feels Kohli and de Villiers take the two spots, but that it is difficult to pick one between them. "We know Sachin and Brian Lara were the two best players of all time in our generation. But Virat and AB de Villiers; it's very difficult to separate those guys. Virat is as good as anyone that I have seen play the game. Wonderful, terrific player, I love his energy and passion. I am sure when he finishes in ten years or so he will be spoken about in the same breath as Sachin," he said.
Warne, who is currently mentoring Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018, also predicted that Kohli will score a bucketful of runs on India's England tour that starts in July. The last time Kohli played in Tests in England, he had a horrible outing, scoring 134 runs at 13.40 as India went on to lose the four-match series 1-3.
Warne says the 29-year-old will have a memorable series this time around. "… [England is] perhaps the only place which Virat hasn't yet nailed. And I think he will nail England this year. I think Virat will have an unbelievable series in England which will hold him in good stead in Australia also. He played beautifully in Australia in the last tour. His knock at Adelaide was nearly match winning. Jeez! He played well. I love to see Virat Kohli play," he was quoted as saying.
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