Sourav Ganguly has lauded Virat Kohli after the India Test skipper scored a monumental 235 as the hosts thrashed England by an innings and 36 runs to take an unassailable three-nil lead in the five-match series. The double-century was his third this year having previously hit two double centuries in the last two series against the West Indies and New Zealand.
Kohli has now become only the fifth batsman to score three double centuries in the longest format of the game in a calendar year, joining Sir Donald Bradman (1930), Ricky Ponting (2003), Michael Clarke (2012) and Brendon McCullum (2014). The India Test skipper has also become just the third captain to score three scores of 200 or more in a calendar year. The Delhi batsman has also now scored more than 2500 runs this year across all formats and has become only the 11th player to achieve the incredible feat.
Speaking to India Today, Ganguly said:“The numbers can’t get better than this. If you look at the stats as skipper 30 matches, 3000-plus runs at an average of 100. To have an average like that in 30 matches on a consistent basis is unreal. Hopefully, he continues to bat like this.
“I’ve said this before that when Virat Kohli plays you sit on the sofa and watch. Because you see a man who’s passionate, you see a man who wants to win, you see a man who wants to take Indian cricket forward. Future of Indian cricket rests on Virat Kohli and if he continues like this his hunger, his want for runs, he’s got a good head on his shoulders. The world will be at his feet in a few years’ time,” he added.
Ganguly also had a word of praise for Jayant Yadav who became the first Indian batsman to hit a century at No. 9. He joined Kohli when the score was 364, 36 runs short of England’s first innings total of 400 and then added 241 runs with the skipper to put India firmly in the driver’s seat.
Ganguly said:“Credit also needs to be given to Jayant Yadav and the way he batted. His technique looks so good. Yes, you can say England didn’t have the best spinners in the world and they were bowling one lose delivery every over but you still have to put those bad ball away and Jayant has done that consistently. What stands out for me is his technique, his defence against the turning ball and I thought he played exceptionally well with the captain.
“For a young boy in his third Test match to show so much of maturity really speaks terrific of his character,” he added.
Ganguly said that the situations in which Kohli has scored the runs make him different from the others.
“There have been batsmen in the past who have averaged over 50 in Test and ODI cricket in the same year but what stands out for Virat Kohli and makes him different from the rest is the situation and circumstances in which he gets his runs,” he pointed out.
“You look at the Vizag Test he came in when India were in a spot of bother, he knew how important that match was, he knew England were in a good position so he put the knockout punch by getting a big hundred. In Mumbai India were again in trouble because they had to bat fourth in this match, Kohli not only got a hundred but he made sure he took the game away from England.
“So it’s not just about the 50-plus averages or the hundreds, but it’s a bit more than that with Virat Kohli. He just stamps his authority to win cricket matches for India be it in ODIs, Tests or T20Is,” concluded Ganguly.