England Vs India 2018: Alec Stewart Reckons Virat Kohli Faces More Heat Than Sachin Tendulkar
Published - 29 Aug 2018, 07:37 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:54 PM
Representing 1.3 billion people is always a pressure stunt for any individual as the professional. The master blaster of India, Sachin Tendulkar carried it for 24 glorious years, and now, Team India skipper Virat Kohli took the role for India. Meanwhile, the English former cricketer Alec Stewart feels Kohli is carrying more burden than Tendulkar regarding pressure from the fans.
Stewart pointed out the development and accessibility owing to the technology have changed the scenario.
It’s more than just a game of cricket for India – Alec Stewart
Speaking to Hindustan Times, the former cricketer maintained Indians love the game of cricket more than any other sport. He feels that it is more than a competition for Indians where emotions speak high.
When asked about the comparison between Kohli and Tendulkar, the Englishman added that Kohli faces more pressure than Tendulkar due to the emergence of technology.
“Both represent a country with 1.3 billion people and there will be massive expectations. But it’s a tribute to these people the way they deal with adulation; it’s more than just a game of cricket,” he said.
“It’s potentially harder on Kohli than Tendulkar because of the accessibility now. TV, radio, social media, online, these days everyone has an opinion. The spotlight is even greater now,” Stewart added.
Initially, there were a lot of debates made on Indian skipper Kohli for his poor record in England. When asked the same, Stewart added that he isn’t surprised with Kohli making a turnaround.
“I’m not surprised at all. He is world class; I am a massive fan of him. Top players will always find a way to succeed. I expected him to do well, whether he played for Surrey or not — he has talent and mental strength to perform well,” Alec Stewart inferred.
However, as Alec Stewart said, top-class players will always find a place in whatever conditions they were given. All in all, Virat Kohli has grown a lot in stature and surpassing various records in his every knock for India while lavishing praise on Sachin Tendulkar.
