I rate Virat Kohli as the best Indian batter ever: Navjot Singh Sidhu

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has labelled Virat Kohli as the greatest batter of all time, placing him above legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Sir Viv Richards. Sidhu expressed his firm belief that Kohli stands as the pinnacle of Indian cricketing talent.

When asked about whether Kohli should consider batting at number three for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), with an eye on the T20 World Cup, Sidhu had a clear stance. He argued against the move, emphasising that Kohli should stick to the position demanded by the team's requirements.

"I don’t think so. It’s what the team demands. You could be the greatest player in the world, which he is. But if your team is not winning, especially hasn’t held the trophy once, then it’s a blot that you would want to erase. It’s not detrimental to him in anyway, because he has given his best and you could see it," Sidhu said in an exclusive chat with India Today.

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"I have rated him as the best Indian batter ever. There are eras where I would put up my transistor and listen to Sunil Gavaskar bat against the West Indies, those are the 70s. The great West Indies fast bowlers, bunking school and just going out one period and listening to how he was batting and without a helmet, that was his era. He dominated for almost 15-20 years. Then came Tendulkar, another era. Then came Dhoni, and then came Virat. If you look at four, I would rate him as the best because he has adapted to all three formats," Sidhu further added.

Sidhu went on to elaborate on what sets Kohli apart from his predecessors, highlighting his adaptability across all formats, unparalleled fitness, and remarkable longevity in international cricket.

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"In the same way, his technical ability and the fittest of all of them. If you look at all four, he would be the fittest. Tendulkar had problems, in the latter stages of his career. Dhoni, he is fit. Virat is super fit. That holds him in good stead. It elevates him to a level, a few notches higher, that others have not been able to achieve. The longevity factor, gives him a plus. The adaptability factor is Sone Pe Suhaaga," concluded the former India batter.