ENG vs IND 2018: Virat Kohli Is The Greatest Player On The Planet Right Now: Nasser Hussain
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that India skipper Virat Kohli is the best player in the world right now after the latter’s exploits in the ongoing England vs India series.
The ongoing series is panning out in start contrast to what happened on the last tour to Kohli.
The last time Kohli had visited England, James Anderson & Co. had given him a hard time. The right-hander had scored 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0, 7, 6 and 20 in the five Tests and finished the series with an average of 13.40.
However, Kohli has proved that the failure was an one-off. He started off with a classy 149 and a gutsy 51 in the first Test at Edgbaston. He fell cheaply in both the innings at Lord’s but bounced back in style at Trent Bridge. In the first innings, he scored 97 in tough conditions.
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In the second innings, he did even better by slamming his 23rd Test ton. The 29-year old scored 103, helping India post 352 for 7 (declared) and set England a target of 521. In reply, the hosts were all out for 317.
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Kohli’s latest exploits have drawn widespread praise and Hussain has also joined the party. The cricketer-turned-commentator not only praised him but also said he is up there with the likes of legendary India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.
“I like the balance he has between intensity and having a relaxed nature – he will talk to the umpires, talk to Anderson, Stokes and Jos Buttler but the moment he is on strike, boy, does he switch on,” wrote Hussain in Sky Sports.
“Kohli might not feel he had a point to prove in England after his 2014 tour but world cricket was waiting to see if he could get runs here to cement himself as a great and be up there with Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar for India.
“He has put any doubts well and truly to bed, with 400 runs in conditions that have been very bowler-friendly. He is far from a flat-track bully. It’s been an outstanding performance from a great, great player. I believe he is the greatest player on the planet right now,” he added.
The knocks in Trent Bridge Test has helped Kohli reclaim the number one spot. He is also the leading run-scorer in Tests this year.
Hussain also heaped praise on the Indian side for their comeback after losing the first two Tests.
“India had a similar path in South Africa where they lost the first two Tests and then showed a lot of fight and character in the third and it’s been a similar story here, though another slow start to a series could ultimately cost them,” wrote Hussain.
“They have tightened up their techniques, with the openers, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul, deserving a lot of credit for setting up both innings. Cheteshwar Pujara has also enjoyed some success. He is a player I have always liked and In England, you need that type of player,” he added.
