England legend Kevin Pietersen has lavished praise on Virat Kohli for being a top role model for his teammates by creating a fitness culture which he feels has brought a huge turnaround in Indian cricket.
Follow all the action from IPL 2024, including the IPL 2024 Schedule and IPL 2024 Points Table. Also, check Players vying for IPL 2024 Orange Cap and IPL 2024 Purple Cap
“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 said on Star Sports.
On Monday, Kohli took a cheeky swipe at Pietersen, his former RCB teammate, for suggesting that India should take pick him in their T20 World Cup squad irrespective of how he performs for the ‘good of the game’.
After starring in RCB’s four-wicket win over Punjab Kings with a superlative innings of 77, Kohli said he has still got in him to thrive in T20 setup and he’s not just a platform to take the game global considering his star value.
“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,” Pietersen said.
“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. 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,” he added.
Another former RCB teammate of Kohli AB de Villiers was full of praise for the former India captain.
“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,” De Villiers said on JioCinema.
“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,” he added.
Comments
0 comment