Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali recently congratulated Virat Kohli on completing an impressive 16 years in international cricket. Kohli, who made his international debut on August 18, 2008, in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla, has since become one of the most iconic figures in the cricketing world. Ali, now a cricket analyst, praised Kohli’s relentless dedication and hard work, which have been the cornerstones of his illustrious career.

Ali didn’t just celebrate Kohli’s achievements; he also used the occasion to highlight the work ethic required to maintain such a high standard over a long career. Drawing comparisons with cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Younis Khan, and Javed Miandad, Ali emphasized that these players’ success was built on unwavering commitment and consistent effort. He urged young cricketers to not merely admire Kohli’s achievements but to understand and adopt the work ethic that has been the foundation of his success.

“The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Younis Khan, and Javed Miandad had very long careers because of their dedication. It’s easy to say Virat Kohli has played for 16 years, but do today’s youngsters know the challenges he faced, the sacrifices he made, or how early he wakes up to train even on match days? Similarly, Sachin Tendulkar was so passionate about cricket that he used to sleep with a bat by his side. These stories are well-known, but few youngsters today truly understand the dedication behind them,” Basat Ali remarked on his YouTube channel.

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Ali also touched upon the opportunities young Indian cricketers like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Riyan Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have in sharing the dressing room with stalwarts like Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He urged these budding talents to learn as much as they can from their experienced teammates, emphasizing the importance of absorbing knowledge from such legends.

“Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Riyan Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are extremely fortunate to be playing alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. If they don’t take advantage of this opportunity to learn from them, all I can do is give them a salute. They should be constantly asking questions, seeking guidance, and trying to learn from these veterans,” Basat Ali advised.

Basat Ali also highlighted Kohli’s unmatched intensity on the field. He noted that even when Kohli doesn’t succeed with the bat, his presence and commitment in the field are palpable.

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“Look at his dedication. Even if he gets out early, he gives it his all in the field. The crowd’s reaction when the ball goes to him is a testament to his influence and the hard work he’s put in over the past 16 years,” Basit Ali concluded. Kohli, who recently participated in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, managed to score only 58 runs across three innings on challenging spin-friendly pitches. He will be eager to bounce back as India gears up for their upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home.