Former Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir has heaped praise on Virat Kohli, declaring him the standout batter of his generation. Amir placed Kohli above contemporaries like Babar Azam, Steve Smith, and Joe Root, citing his unmatched record of match-winning performances for India across formats as a testament to his greatness.
Kohli, along with Smith, Root, and Kane Williamson, forms cricket’s illustrious ‘fab four.’ Among them, Kohli boasts the most impressive ODI stats and remains the only player to clinch a Player of the Match award in a T20 World Cup final. While his Test form dipped during a prolonged slump starting in late 2019, his contributions across formats remain unparalleled.
“Virat Kohli is the greatest player of this generation. I laugh when comparisons are made between him and Babar Azam, Steve Smith, or Joe Root,” Mohammad Amir remarked on the Cricket Predicta Show. “Virat has won so many matches for India, something that seems almost impossible for one player. Across all three formats, he is undoubtedly the greatest batsman of this era.”
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Amir also highlighted Kohli’s resilience in overcoming setbacks, particularly referencing his transformation following a tough England tour in 2014. Amir credited Kohli’s tireless work ethic as the cornerstone of his success, enabling him to dominate world cricket for over a decade. Reflecting on a personal highlight, Amir mentioned dismissing Kohli in the 2017 Champions Trophy final as a turning point for Pakistan in their victory against India.
“Virat’s work ethic is extraordinary,” Mohammad Amir added. “After his struggles in England in 2014, the way he bounced back and maintained world-class performances for 10 years is exceptional. His wicket in the 2017 Champions Trophy final was crucial for us. If we hadn’t gotten him out, we would have lost because of his brilliant chasing ability.”
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Currently, Kohli has shown flashes of his brilliance, including a century in the first Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, he has struggled for consistency, failing to cross double digits in subsequent innings. With the series locked at 1-1, all eyes will be on Kohli as India takes on Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Boxing Day Test starting December 26.
