"There's Virat Kohli, Daylight And Then The Rest": Nasser Hussain's Ultimate Tribute To India Star

12.06.2023 - 03:09 sports.ndtv.com

Team India's hopes of lifting the ICC World Test Championship title rested in the hands of veterans Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane on Sunday.

With India needing 280 runs more to get on the Day 5 of the match at the Oval, the spotlight is understandably on 'chase master' Kohli who has pulled off some dramatic run-chases for the Indian team over the years.

The odds were overwhelmingly in Australia's favour and the team proved exactly why by thumping India by 209 runs to lift the Test mace.

But, before the start of play on Day 5, former England captain Nasser Hussain asserted that the match isn't over until Kohli is on the pitch.

cricket Australia Cricket Team Nasser Hussain Virat Kohli Australia London India

While there is intense competition between India and Pakistan on the cricket field, there is often huge adulation shared between cricketers of both the sides. The same is the case with Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir. Ex-India captain Virat Kohli has often lauded the fast bowler and the Pakistani has also admitted his respect for Kohli, the batter. In a recent video, Amir mentioned that he considers Virat Kohli and Babar Azam among his top-three favourite batters. Surprisingly, for his third choice he picked up the young Shubman Gill.

Virat Kohli "Partied All Night And Scored 250": India Star Narrates Unheard Tale

Star India batter Virat Kohli is driven by 'belief' rather than 'hope', feels veteran India pacer Ishant Sharma. Having played with Kohli since their U-17 days in Delhi, Ishant has seen the ups and downs in the former India captain's career. Known as the 'chase master', Kohli has won so many games for India, especially when other players had a bad day at the office. One such iconic knock came from his bat last year against Pakistan during the T20 World Cup in Australia. Speaking in a recent interaction, Ishant recalled an incident from their U-19 days when Kohli partied all knight and ended up scoring a 250 next day.

"He Was Alone And...": Ex-India Star Recalls Saddest Phase Of Virat Kohli's Career

Star India batter Virat Kohli was only 18 when he lost his father. He was playing a Ranji Trophy match for his home side Delhi against Karnataka when he got the news of his father's death. His father, Prem, died at the age of 54 in the early hours on December 19, 2006. India pacer Ishant Sharma shares a close bond with Kohli, having played with him since their U-17 days. Ishant recalled the day after Kohli's father had died, labelling it as the saddest day of the batting maestro's career.

"Lower Lele Bhai Apne Size Ka": India Star On His First Interaction With Virat Kohli

India cricketers Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma have been close friends since their early days in cricket. Both have been playing together since the U-17 days, and have also represented Delhi and India. Over the years, Ishant has witnessed the highs and lows of Kohli's career. In a recent interaction, Ishant spilled beans on his first chat with Kohli. The pacer, who has currently fallen out of favour in the Indian side, revealed that he first me Kohli during the Delhi U-17 camp.

"To Play Against Virat Kohli": Pakistan-born USA Star On 'Ultimate Goal'

Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli remains the benchmark for many budding cricketers all across the globe. One such player is former Pakistan Under-19 batter Shayan Jahangir who is now a player for the United States of America senior cricket team. Up against Nepal in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 qualifier, Jahangir scored his maiden century in the Group A match, drawing plaudits from the cricketing spectrum. After his ton, Jahangir spoke of his ambitions of playing against none other than the great Kohli and show that there's 'another batter on the block'.

"Whenever I Needed Advice...": Pakistani Batter On His Bond With Virat Kohli

Star India batter Virat Kohli is admired by globally for his professionalism and his work ethic. Apart from his abilities as a batter, Kohli has sparked a fitness regime in India, which is followed by every budding cricketer in the country. However, his charm isn't restricted to India. Pakistani batter Ahmed Shehzad, who has been often compared Kohli, is a huge admirer of the former India captain. Shehzad was all praise for Kohli and credited the 34-year-old for transforming the fortunes of India's Test side.