Former India opener turned commentator Virender Sehwag recalled the first time he saw star India batter Virat Kohli play, admitting that he could see the huge potential in him at such a young age. The veteran also said that he was impressed by a backfoot punch for four from Kohli’s bat, which beat both long-off and long-on fielders as well. However, both played together for India between 2008 and 2013 and were part of the team that won the ODI World Cup in 2011 as well.

“He is a Delhi boy. When I first saw him for the first time at the Feroz Shah Kotla, he hit a backfoot punch and it beat both long-on and long-off for four. You can see the ability of the player then,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz. “Many players came and went, but such a powerful shot off the backfoot that both players can’t stop the ball it showed that you had the talent and potential to go forward and play. It was my reaction, I said Wow.”

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Sehwag also praised Virat Kohli’s fitness and felt that he could be fitter than most players in either the Indian or any other team in recent times as well. He also admitted that he could have played Test cricket for two more years as well.

“He is 36 years old and you can compare his fitness with players from other teams or the Indian team, even today he could leave many players behind. He could leave 90 per cent players behind, in terms of fitness, in terms of running. That separates him from the rest and that is why his performances have been consistent because he has the hunger to score runs, that has not gone away. I would say he retired early from Test cricket. He could have easily played the format for two more years,” Virender Sehwag concluded.