Former India cricketer VVS Laxman praised India captain Virat Kohli after the India captain smashed a career-best unbeaten 254 in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa in Pune on Friday. While riding on Virat Kohli’s record seventh double hundred, the most by an Indian batsman, India declared after scoring a huge total of 601/5 before reducing South Africa to 36/3 at stumps on the Day 2. VVS Laxman said that at this stage of his career, the battle against one’s own thought process is more important than against the bowlers.

“For a player like Kohli, batting at this level is like batting against your thought process and not against the bowlers,” the 44-year-old said in a segment of Cricket Live that exclusively aired on Star Sports.

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He also said that Kohli’s ability to pick the gaps and score big on a consistent basis puts pressure on the opposition captain and bowlers as well.

“I’m really impressed with his precise footwork and effective shot selection. It’s amazing how he balances his stance, how he goes forward and plays the ball through the offside. He has the gift of noticing the gaps which puts pressure on the opposition captain and bowlers. He definitely had a different level of concentration today,” VVS Laxman said.