Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has applauded Indian captain Virat Kohli for his consistency, hard work and match-winning skills. He even named the current phase of Indian cricket under his leadership as their “golden age”. However, Kohli has completed 13 years in international cricket on Wednesday, making his debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla, where he scored 12 runs while opening the batting.
Judging the impact of Virat Kohli on Indian cricket, Salman Butt stated that the 32-year-old has a massive influence on the team. He commented: “A new era began in Indian cricket the day Virat Kohli made his international debut. They way he has proved himself to the world as a cricketer over the last 13 years, he is a sporting icon. The way he has transformed himself and his commitment to the game has been exemplary. He has been outstanding, something never seen before. He hasn’t been scored a hundred in the last two years… Imagine the kind of impact he has made on Indian cricket.”
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He further added: “When he chases targets, he has an average of 90 and a strike rate of over 100 and a great success rate. His gestures are very clear to the opposition. But he is an inspiration for all the youngsters. Kohli has build the kind of reputation some cricketers earn at the end of their careers. This era of Indian cricket is lucky to have Kohli. The impact of Kohli on Indian cricket will be felt even after he moves on. I would say this is the golden age of Indian cricket.”
On the other hand, former England cricketer Nick Compton on Wednesday opened up on the recent controversy during the Lord’s Test when he termed Virat Kohli the most “foul-mouthed individual”. However, Virat Kohli and Co. will play the third Test against England from August 25.
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Taking to his Twitter handle, Compton added: “Isn’t Kohli the most foul-mouthed individual? I’ll Never forget the barrage of abuse I received in 2012 when the swearing stunned me to the point that he did himself a serious disservice. It highlights what a level-headed and grounded man Root, Tendulkar, Williamson et al are.”
