Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan heaped praise on Virat Kohli after the modern-day great struck his 54th ODI century in the final match of the three-game series against New Zealand at Indore’s Holkar Stadium. Despite India’s 41-run defeat in the series decider, Pathan labelled Kohli as India’s finest-ever ODI batter, underlining his unmatched consistency across eras.
Kohli once again stood tall under pressure, scoring a superb 124 off 108 deliveries while chasing a stiff target of 338. Although the innings came in a losing cause, it reinforced Kohli’s reputation as India’s most dependable performer in the 50-over format.
Irfan Pathan pointed out that Kohli’s dominance has spanned more than a decade, regardless of leadership changes or team transitions. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan highlighted how Kohli has remained India’s benchmark batter from 2013 through to 2026.
ALSO READ: Kris Srikkanth Hails Harshit Rana As The Game-Changer After Fearless Indore ODI Knock
“When I was playing in 2013, people said Virat Kohli was the best batter in the Indian team. In 2016, it was the same. Now, 10 years later, people are still calling him the best batter in India’s ODI side,” irfan Pathan said. He also emphasised that Kohli has scored heavily under multiple captains, including MS Dhoni, during his own stint as captain, under Rohit Sharma, and now under the young leadership of Shubman Gill.
Pathan reserved special praise for Kohli’s fitness and hunger for runs, describing him as a true “Run Machine.” According to the former all-rounder, Kohli’s athleticism and intensity have only improved with time.
“When you watch Virat Kohli run between the wickets and see his fitness levels, there’s absolutely no drop. If anything, he looks better now,” Irfan Pathan remarked. “He plays, he scores runs, and he repeats.”
ALSO READ: Daryl Mitchell Reveals Why Targeting Kuldeep Yadav Was Key To New Zealand’s Historic ODI Win
Kohli’s hundred in Indore was his 85th international century and his fourth in his last eight 50-over innings, including one in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. While New Zealand sealed a historic 2-1 series win, Kohli’s innings stood out as a reminder of his enduring class and elite standards in ODI cricket.
