Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has lauded Virat Kohli as the best batter of this generation, stating that he deserves to win a World Cup medal more than anyone. Kohli is set to compete in his sixth T20 World Cup in 2024, aiming to secure the coveted trophy as India begin their campaign on June 5th.
Kohli’s journey in the T20 World Cup began in 2012, five years after India’s only title in the format. His career soared to new heights during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where he set a record for the most runs in the tournament.
Virat Kohli is the ‘best batter of this generation’
Despite his remarkable achievements, Virat Kohli is still hungry for another World Cup medal, having last won the title in 2011. Yuvraj Singh, in a conversation with the ICC, stated, “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 emphasized that Kohli’s understanding of the game sets him apart from his peers. “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,” Yuvraj explained. “Once he had the confidence of chasing and knowing the situation, he knows 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 knows when to change his game.”
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Virat Kohli’s stellar performances at the T20 World Cup
While Kohli’s 2016 and 2022 performances are remembered for some of the finest innings in T20 history, his best performance came in the 2014 T20 World Cup. During that edition, he scored the most runs, with four half-centuries in six matches. Yuvraj, who played alongside Kohli during that tournament, praised his ability to hit the ball. “I think he was outstanding. He was in one of the best forms of his life. He was hitting the ball unbelievably. And I had a small partnership with him (in the final), and then he batted with Dhoni,” Yuvraj recalled.
Kohli’s consistency in T20 cricket is remarkable, as evidenced by his 542 runs in IPL 2024, with an average of 67.75 and a strike rate of 148.08. What makes Kohli so special? Yuvraj explained that Kohli’s meticulous approach to practice and match simulation is a key factor. “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,” Yuvraj noted. “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.”
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