I am a fan of Virat Kohli, says Allan Border
Indian test captain Virat Kohli has found another admirer in former Australian skipper, Allan Border.
Border who is in Chennai to witness the second semi-final and final of the inaugural Tamil Nadu Premier League said that Kohli could end up breaking all records. However, he believed that the big task for Kohli would be to shepherd his team in foreign conditions.
“I like Virat Kohli very much. I think he is a world-class player and probably you can argue that he will end up with all the statistical records for himself. I like his captaincy because he is a very feisty sort of competitor. His captaincy will develop more and more as he takes to the job over the next few years. I suppose the real test for him now will be when you go away from home and play — South Africa, Australia and England in particular. That will be the real test for Virat Kohli and the Indian boys, on how develop their cricket in conditions that usually don’t suit them. The real test will be on how he takes the side ahead. But I am a big fan of his cricket already,” Border said in an interview to Sportstar.
When asked to pick one among Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, Border said that it was hard to pick one.
"I have seen Virat Kohli do very well in Australia but struggle in England. Root is also a good player. Steve Smith has made runs at most places, but he is very fidgety at the crease. Kohli is a pure technician and is very classical in his approach," Border further said.
The former Australian captain, however, singled out Kane Williamson and said that he believes he is one of the complete players in the world currently.
“I must admit if I wanted someone to bat for me for life, Williamson is probably up there. I have seen him play some superb knocks in difficult conditions. He deserves to be in the bracket of those top four,” Border added.
Border who has an envious Test record to his name also said that MS Dhoni was a better ODI captain as compared to Test cricket.
“M. S. Dhoni was more of a short form exponent. He did a great job in Test cricket while playing here. Sometimes he let the game drift a bit. But having said this, he is a great cricketer," Border observed.