There is huge gap between Virat Kohli and rest of world: Brian Lara

[Hitman]

West Indies batting great Brian Lara on Thursday likened Virat Kohli to a run machine, avowing that the India skipper is way ahead of rest of the world when it comes to batting across formats.

Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar remains Lara's all-time favourite but in today's era, he said it is Kohli, who is the best.


“He (Virat Kohli) is a (run) machine. But sorry to say Sachin Tendulkar is my (choice)," he said after being conferred the Doctorate in Science (Honours Causa) by the D Y Patil University in Nerul here.

"But getting back to your question, no doubt there is a huge gap between Virat Kohli and the rest of the world in all forms of the game. Rohit Sharma might have got four centuries in this World Cup, (Jonny) Bairstow or whatever, if you want somebody to bat in T20, T10, 100 balls (cricket) or Test cricket, it is going to be Virat Kohli today, “ added Lara, who still holds the record for highest score in Tests.

Lara, who scored 22,358 in international cricket, said if today Indian batsmen are doing well in away series, it is because of Tendulkar, who instilled such confidence in them.

"The (impression) Sachin left on the game is just unbelievable, because he sort of bridged that period, where you felt that when Indian batsman leaves Indian soil, Indian pitches, they are not that good. But Sachin Tendulkar was good on every surface and all of the Indian batsman are good on every single surface today, I think simply because they took a page out of his (Sachin's) book," added Lara.

Meanwhile, Lara was pained to witness the plight of the Caribbean cricket. The West Indies have already been knocked out of the World Cup semifinal race.

"We have been turned to a corner. Every country, every sports team goes through a little bit of cycle, but we seem to be in the same position for quite some-time, which is unfortunate."

During the over-hour programme, Lara spoke at length about his early days, contribution of his father, his college days and facing the spin duo of Sri Lankan great Muttiah Murlidharan and Shane Warne and his relationship with Tendulkar.

Link: https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...-brian-lara-world-cup-2019-1562060-2019-07-04

 

[Stark]

I hope he starts scoring more than those solid 70s that he has been notching up till now in this WC.

 

[QalandarFan]

In all forms of the game? I agree with respect to ODI's and T20I's he's the best in the world right now maybe the best ever love watching him bat.

However no one comes close to pre-ban Steve Smith in terms of test batting. Virat is getting better everyday as a test cricketer as well and his last tour of England exemplified his class but he is still below Smith in my opinion.

It will be interesting to see how Steve Smith does on his return if he has regressed than we can say Virat is the best but I see no reason for Steve Smith's test performances to go down I think he will still be the same run machine and beast he was before his ban.

 

[emranabbas]

Babar is the only closest batmens to kohli

 

[QalandarFan]

Babar is the only closest batmens to kohli

Yes Kane Williamson, David Warner, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Rohit Sharma all retired yesterday.

Dude Babar is good but he still has a ways to go. And that's not a bad thing if at 24 you have peaked would be the worry but in this World Cup Babar has shown he can improve leaps and bounds. It's not fair to compare Babar to Kohli.

 

[emranabbas]

Yes Kane Williamson, David Warner, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Rohit Sharma all retired yesterday.

Dude Babar is good but he still has a ways to go. And that's not a bad thing if at 24 you have peaked would be the worry but in this World Cup Babar has shown he can improve leaps and bounds. It's not fair to compare Babar to Kohli.

It was a troll post, I'm glad you acknowledge that kane, warner, root etc.... Exist

During eng series you were rooting Babar as the next best thing after sliced bread

 

[QalandarFan]

It was a troll post, I'm glad you acknowledge that kane, warner, root etc.... Exist

During eng series you were rooting Babar as the next best thing after sliced bread

Please direct me to the posts.

 

[Bewal Express]

He is a brilliant player- one for the ages.

 

[Captain caveman]

Lara praising indian cricketers, while he is in india, who would of thought?!!

 

[QalandarFan]

It was a troll post, I'm glad you acknowledge that kane, warner, root etc.... Exist

During eng series you were rooting Babar as the next best thing after sliced bread

Still waiting on proof of those accusations you made of me calling Babar "the greatest thing since sliced bread." Yeah didn't think you would find anything cause I never made any such statements. I have always acknowledged that Babar is very talented but has a lot to improve and will only be considered in the bracket of guys like Williamson, Root, Rohit, etc once he starts consistently winning us matches.

Before you want to come up and making false and brainless accusations next time make sure you know what your talking about.

 

[rhony]

He's done very well but his legacy will be defined by the SF and possibly final in this WC. He will be too old by the next world cup. He's at his peak now and there's no better chance.

 

[cricketjoshila]

He's done very well but his legacy will be defined by the SF and possibly final in this WC. He will be too old by the next world cup. He's at his peak now and there's no better chance.

Kohli will be 34 in 2023. Not too old.

 

[rhony]

Kohli will be 34 in 2023. Not too old.

28 to 32 is typically when batsmen are at their peak. Kohli could still dominate then because of his fitness but this is his peak. Also, don't discount other intangibles like lack of form or injuries in 4 years time. Time is now to show as he's in good touch

 

[saeed5646]

Absoulty agree with kohli .Rohit is good but not closed to kohli yet

 

[ak619]

Lara praising indian cricketers, while he is in india, who would of thought?!!

He could have said this on the moon and it still would have been just as true.

 

[Hasan123]

I agree with Lara. Maybe Smith is close but there is a big gap between the rest of the batters and Kohli.

 

[Majid Khan]

Kohli looks head and shoulders above all other batsmen today, top player indeed. Only Hafeez oozes confidence when batting against top bowlers similarly to Kohli, no other modern day batsman comes close.

 

[Ab Fan]

Agreed with Lara. He is the best ODI and T20 batsmen of this generation and the second best test batsmen of this era with the third being a distant third.

The greatest batsmen to have debuted in this millennium.

 

[Mesozoic]

Agreed with Lara. He is the best ODI and T20 batsmen of this generation and the second best test batsmen of this era with the third being a distant third.

The greatest batsmen to have debuted in this millennium.

I don't think so.

With that name, you should be the last person to say that.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Lara getting that indian paper

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Lara praising indian cricketers, while he is in india, who would of thought?!!

They are gracious hosts arnt they..

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Babar is the only closest batmens to kohli

Babar can even surpass Kohli. Just go to score daddy 100s every 4th/5th innings for half a decade!

 

[Hyperion66]

All format combined Kohli is just so far ahead of the rest that it is actually pretty scary. It takes insane level of talent, focus and intelligence to be a top bat in all 3 formats. Bar a peak AB and Root for a very brief period none even came close, even AB was somewhat inconsistent in t20s by his standard.

 

[Ab Fan]

[/B]

I don't think so.

With that name, you should be the last person to say that.

I don't think it's worth doubt any more. Kohli has clearly surpassed Sangakkara, Smith and ABD and has established himself as the best batsmen to have debuted this millennium.

Among 2000s debutant, I would bracket up my argument on these four names and rank Kohli as the best of the lot.