Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen called Virat Kohli the man responsible for a huge turnaround in Indian cricket.
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Kohli responsible for huge turnaround in Indian cricket
Pietersen said Kohli, 35, turned his Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammates into “out and out athletes.”
He also highlighted Kohli’s commitment to his fitness and training.
“One of the things that everyone will remember and will create the greatest memories as a player will be him finishing innings and being one the greatest finishers of all time,” Pietersen told Star Sports after Kohli led RCB to a victory on Monday.
“One of the things that he has done for Indian cricket is he has turned Indian cricketers into athletes, out and out athletes. And while doing so, he’s not just talked the talk. He has walked the walk, and you can see that. When he is running between the wickets, his full commitment, energy, and desire is to be the best and he is the best.”
“That starts before the field, that starts with diet, the energy he puts in the gym, with the sacrifices that he has made to walk the walk because when you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.”
Amazing player
South African legend and Kohli’s former RCB teammate AB de Villiers also commended Kohli for influencing cricketers to achieve greatness.
de Villiers also commended the star batter in his IPL match against Punjab Kings, who scored a brilliant 77-run knock for RCB.
“That’s what all the other players who have played under you are following you, watch you. The turnaround in Indian cricket is because of what he has done,” de Villiers told JioCinema.
“I could see it in his eyes, this guy meant business tonight and nobody was going to stand in his way. Unfortunately, he didn’t finish it at the back end. He would have wanted to.”
“Knowing him, he will be analysing tonight in his room, ‘Why didn’t I finish that game?’ He’s very hard on himself sometimes. He’s creeping up there on the list of most 50 scores with the other guys in IPL history.”
“He’s an amazing player, he played fantastically well tonight. He kept it together, kept them in the game. Well played, Virat.”
