Indian National Cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri has hailed skipper Virat Kohli saying that he reminds him of former Pakistan Cricket team skipper Imran Khan in many ways. Meanwhile, Kohli has been the chief architect of India doing so well across formats. On the other hand, Shastri has also quietly built a reputation for himself as chief coach.
While speaking to Cricbuzz, Ravi Shastri opened shared high praise on Virat Kohli. Also, he added that how the two have ensured that this Indian team is here to dominate world cricket in the years to follow. The former India all-rounder was in awe of Kohli’s evolution as a batsman. Meanwhile, the Indian skipper swept all the ICC awards for 2018, which according to Ravi Shastri is phenomenal.
Kohli is Imran Khan in many ways
In addition to, Ravi Shastri also noted that Virat Kohli is as dominant as Windies legend Viv Richards. Hailing Kohli, Shastri said Kohli wants to dominate the game and praised his work ethic. In addition to, the former India cricketer added that India is lucky to have Kohli as the skipper.
Moreover, the Delhi cricketer reminds Shastri of Imran Khan, who liked to set examples and standard of his own. Kohli is praised for his ability to lead from the front which resembles to that of Khan, who is currently the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
“To carry that kind of pressure of captaincy and clean up all the individual ICC awards as well is phenomenal. We have had great players who struggled to handle pressure when they were captain. Then we had some captains who didn’t know what number to bat at – when they are good enough to go at number three, but they chose to go at six or seven.
“But here is a guy who is as dominant as Sir Vivian Richards. The closest I have seen to the great man. Virat is in your face, he wants to dominate and has a work ethic like no one else. Whether it comes to discipline, training, sacrifice or self-denial, it is unbelievable. I think India is lucky to have a leader of that sort. He reminds me of Imran Khan in many ways — in the way he sets the example and sets the standards, and goes about defining it in his own way and leading from the front,” Ravi Shastri said.
Kohli is on a break
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is currently on a break from cricket and the selectors have carefully managed his workload right from the start of 2018. He didn’t take part in the last two ODIs against New Zealand and will also not feature in the three-match T20Is.
However, he is likely to return to action in the five-match ODI series against Australia starting from February 23 at home.