Michael Holding praises Virat Kohli and wants him score runs in England to be known as great batsman

Former Windies fast bowler Michael Holding, who is enjoying the commentary stint in South Africa, believes Team India skipper Virat Kohli must score runs on England soil, in a bid to prove himself among the world-class batsmen.

“He is a very, very good player. When I see him score runs in England, I would call him a great player,” Holding was quoted as saying by Mumbai Mirror.

According to Holding, Kohli is an incredible batsman while revealing his has named the 29-year-old Indian batting mainstay among the three top-notch professionals.

“Virat Kohli is a fantastic batsman. I was asked to name three top cricketers and I included Kohli in that list,” Holding maintained.

On the other side, Holding has picked the other two best cricketers in the form of Australian skipper Steven Smith, who is dominating the Test fold and England captain Joe Root.

“The three cricketers I think are the best now are Joe Root, Kohli and Steve Smith,” Holding added.

Moreover, Holding wants to see South African star batter AB de Villiers in the list but has remarked that he was to see the later collect runs to make his case strong for the list.

“AB de Villiers has just come back into Test cricket and let’s see how he does. I don’t want to include him yet in that list,” Holding asserted.

The 63-year-old veteran speedster Holding is not in a mood to name Kohli among the greats until and unless he won’t score runs in England.

In 10 Test innings in England, Kohli is averaging at an unhealthy average of 13.4.

The prominent figure in the world of cricket, Kohli has been enjoying his batting prowess, particularly at the home as Holding has expressed the liking for the batsmen who score runs in all conditions.

“I like people who score runs everywhere. He is an extremely good player,” Holding further added.

In the ongoing Sunfoil Test series after scoring just 33 in the first Test against South Africa, Kohli returned to smash the 21st hundred which saw him registering 153 runs in the first innings of the Centurion Test.

On the other side, Kohli has been scoring over the average of 52 across formats which have further seen the former cricketers lauding the efforts of the astronomical rise of the Delhi-based batsman.

In 2014, India toured England as Kohli had a torrid tour which saw him struggling throughout the five-match Test series.

Interestingly, with now Kohli as a leader, the Team India is bound to face-off Joe Root-led England with the first Test kicking off on August 01 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Holding, who has been remarkable for Windies, played 60 Tests between 1975 and 1987 which saw him bagging 249 wickets at the average of 23.69.

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