Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has praised Virat Kohli after the batter produced a stunning performance in the first ODI against West Indies. Kohli smashed an unbeaten 139 off just 88 balls as India chased down 296, hitting 10 fours and nine sixes.
The knock took Kohli past the 15,000-run mark in ODI cricket and helped India secure a comfortable victory. Captain Shubman Gill also scored 110, while Kuldeep Yadav claimed four wickets as India restricted West Indies to 296 after Justin Greaves’ century.
Mohammad Kaif highlights Virat Kohli’s remarkable ODI consistency
Kaif recalled the criticism Kohli faced after consecutive ducks in Australia and pointed to the batter’s response since then. According to the former cricketer, Kohli has scored more than 900 runs in his last 11 ODI innings, including four centuries. He also highlighted the attacking nature of Kohli’s latest innings, noting that the batter had never previously hit nine sixes in an ODI innings.
“I still remember when Virat Kohli was out for consecutive ducks twice in Australia; people started commenting that Virat Kohli can no longer do it and should retire. Since then, do you know what Virat Kohli has done? Since then, he has played 11 innings, scored over 900 runs, including four centuries-and I am talking about ODIs. Nine sixes, ten fours, 139 not out off just 88 balls. He has never done this before-this is something new, a new avatar that Virat Kohli has brought out,” Kaif said.
Kaif says young players can learn from Kohli
Kaif also pointed out that Kohli played only 11 ODI innings during the year and did not feature in Tests or T20Is during that period. He believes maintaining such a high standard despite limited opportunities makes the performance even more impressive.
“That is why I say, what can youth learn from him? Youth can learn fitness. Youth can learn hunger, dedication, penance, hard work, and how to maintain that standard,” Kaif said.
The former cricketer said young players can learn several qualities from Kohli, particularly his fitness, hunger, dedication and work ethic. Kohli now has 15,080 ODI runs from 315 matches, including 55 centuries and 79 fifties. The latest century was also his 86th in international cricket.
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