Robert Key, the former English top-order batsman, has certificated Virat Kohli, the current India captain as the best white-ball batsman ever to play the game of cricket.
Kohli has been exceptional with the bat since he broke into the international scene after leading the Under-19 team to a World Cup victory in 2008. He had torn apart world-class bowlers with ease all-around the world and is a class act to watch.
Rob Key. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Recently, Kohli surpassed Ricky Ponting’s record of 30 ODI hundred’s in first ODI match against New Zealand.
On asking whether Kohli can beat Sachin’s record of 49 ODI centuries, Key said that Kohli could even score more. He further added that you could talk about Viv Richards, Sachin, or Lara but Kohli is the best.
Key appreciated the way Kohli approaches his game, and he added that many players could actually learn to play Test cricket watching him bat in ODI cricket. The way Kohli scores runs without any extraordinary shot, playing textbook cricket makes him the best.
Kohli made batting easy as he has now 31 hundreds to his name. Photo Credit: BCCI.
“Yeah, there were quite a few times early on in my career when I could have moved. I was in and around the England set-up, we were always in the first division in the early stages of my career, and everything was about trying to play for England and I was doing that – at least, I was around the set-up, and I was playing first division cricket, so it wasn’t as enticing than to leave,” Key answered when asked whether there were any moments when he wanted to leave Kent, his county team.
Although, Key admitted he regrets at times for not leaving the club because of few people on different committees who gave some tough times. However, after he was done with his England career, he wanted Kent to move forward which became the only passion for him.
The Urn.
Talking about the much-awaited Ashes series next month, the 38-year-old said that individually it depends on how quickly you get your touch back.
“Once you get that it becomes easy for you.”
Recalling the 2010-11 season, Key said the England took the practice games seriously which had a positive effect on the team. If the England batsman starts the first test with a hundred under his belt, the players will be a lot more confident. Same goes with the bowlers as they will want to be in good rhythm.
Robert Key has represented England in 15 Test matches and five ODI. He has scored 775 runs in Test cricket with a highest score of 221 runs. However, his England career didn’t last for a long period.
Ankush Das
I am an accountant by qualification, my parents thought their obedient son would study further to become a CA, but I had other things in mind. An ardent Cricket fan is following his passion and making...
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