Virat Kohli is World's Best Batsman Across Formats, Says Aleem Dar

During the Southampton Test match, Virat Kohli became the only Indian skipper to go past 4000-run mark in Test cricket as captain. However, a top-notch umpire from Pakistan, Aleem Dar termed Kohli as the best batsman in all formats of the international cricket.

Even though India lost the Test series following a 60-run defeat in the fourth Test match at Ageas Bowl on day four, Kohli put all the speculations of him scoring runs in the United Kingdom (UK) to rest.

The 29-year-old scored 544 runs at an average of 68.00. He smashed two hundred and three fifties in the first four games. Apart from Kohli, a majority of the Indian batters failed to live up to the expectations. The visitors struggle under gloomy skies and even failed to read Moeen Ali’s spin.

Aleem Dar praises Virat Kohli for weaving magic:

Renowned umpire Aleem has eventually lavished praise on the Indian mainstay. Just like other cricket pundits and viewers, he too was impressed with Kohli’s swashbuckling knocks.

“Virat Kohli is the world’s best batsman in all formats. Many people wish to copy Virat Kohli, but I don’t think there is any player who can come near him at the moment” he said.

The cricketing world doesn’t often get to witness an umpire who sports a beard. Dar has a special mention for it.

“It was my intention to keep a beard in the future, but I was impressed by Hashim Amla’s words that keep a beard so that people know that there is a Muslim umpire there, so I decided to grow one” he recalled fondly.

Aleem also said that his religion never really added hurdles as he is known across the borders.

“I feel very proud that I am a Muslim and also known as a good umpire. I get checked a lot [at airports due to my beard] but their attitude changes when they see that I am Aleem Dar” he said.

On his on-field call that left a massive impact, Aleem Dar recalled a moment from the famous 2005 Ashes series where he had to make a tough call. He often heaped praise on Virat Kohli, who is the world’s best batsman at the moment.

“You can give decisions which can change the fate of games; I took one such lbw decision when Harmison was bowling to Katich in 2005,” Aleem concluded.