Former Indian cricket star Yuvraj Singh has lauded Virat Kohli, describing him as the “best batter of this generation” across all formats. This high praise comes as Kohli prepares to participate in his sixth T20 World Cup, aiming to add another World Cup medal to his impressive career achievements.
During a conversation with the ICC, Yuvraj expressed his admiration for Kohli’s achievements and his desire to see him win another World Cup. “He has definitely broken all the records in this era. The best batter of this generation, I feel, in all formats. And I think he is also someone who needs a World Cup Medal. He has one. I’m sure he is not satisfied with one. I think he surely deserves that medal as well,” Yuvraj said.
Kohli’s performances in previous T20 World Cups have included some of the most memorable innings, notably his heroic 82* off 53 balls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Pakistan, which captivated over 90,000 spectators. His knack for chasing big targets was again on display during the 2016 T20 World Cup against Australia, where he masterfully chased down 161 runs.
Yuvraj praised Kohli’s strategic approach to batting, emphasizing his deep understanding of game situations. “I think he understands his game really well. He knows if he’s there till the end, he is going to win the game for India and he has done that on some big occasions – against Australia in Mohali as well. Once he had the confidence to chase and knew the situation, he knew how to bat in these situations, knows which bowlers to attack, which bowlers to take singles off, when to attack again, handle the pressure and when to change his game,” he explained.
Currently, Kohli continues to excel, leading as the top scorer in the ongoing IPL 2024 edition. His preparation for the T20 World Cup is evident not only in his performance but also in his rigorous practice habits. “Why I think he was so good was because every time in nets or a practice situation, he would not go and just slog balls. In the nets, he would always bat like he was batting in a match. He put that in repetition after repetition after repetition. I have not seen that in many players. I think that is the key to his success,” Yuvraj elaborated.
India, with Kohli as a central figure, is poised to commence their T20 World Cup campaign with high expectations. The team will start their pursuit of the title against Ireland on June 5, followed by a highly anticipated match against Pakistan on June 9, both to be held at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
