2017 ICC Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli The Best Batsman Without A Shadow of Doubt – Ian Bell
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:41 PM
Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. They’re the quartet of international captains who are ruling the international cricket at this time with their exceptional batting prowess but England batsman Ian Bell singled out Kohli as being the best of the lot.
Kohli had enjoyed a phenomenal Test season in 2016-17, scoring four double centuries in four consecutive series but it ended on a poor note, as he managed to score only 46 runs in three Tests against Australia. His struggle in the Border-Gavaskar series which saw him getting dropped to fifth on the International Cricket Council’s Test batting rankings, putting him beneath Smith (first), Williamson (second) and Root (third).
However, Bells feels Kohli is the best batsman in the world right now without a doubt. He revealed his pick during a freewheeling chat session on Reddit.
“Kohli, without a shadow of doubt!” the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 brand ambassador said when asked who is the best among Smith, Root, Williamson and Kohli.
Replying to another question on who is the best bowler among Mohammad Amir, Kagiso Rabada, Mustafizur Rahman and Jasprit Bumrah, Bell chose the Pakistan pacer.
“Amir. He is amazing,” replied Bell.
Bell further said that he is hopeful of seeing Joe Root doing a good job as England captain just like Kohli, Smith and Williamson have done. England’s batting mainstay was appointed as the skipper of the Test team earlier this year after Alastair Cook resigned from the post following a 4-0 loss in Indian.
“Cook is definitely a really good captain and his record proves that, having said that this is probably the right time for him to step down and Joe can take this young side forward, and I hope that Joe can carry the team forward as Kohli, Smith and Williamson have done and their batting’s flowed with it,” Bell said.
Root’s first assignment as the Test captain is the four-Test series against South Africa starting in July.