Virat Kohli one among the Fab Four: Sourav Ganguly

The Indians is sitting pretty at 3-0 in the six-match series against the Proteas. The run-machine Virat Kohli has led from the front by scoring two centuries in just three matches. The Proteas haven’t been able to take his wicket except once that was in the first ODI. Kohli, who didn’t have a hundred in South Africa before this tour, scored one in the test series and a couple in the limited overs format with his average crossing 300+. That’s an astronomical number for most of the people but not King Kohli.

Run-machine

The Indian skipper has been praised for his intensity and ability to scored hundreds by the former cricketers. Just when one feels that Kohli is at the top of the world and has done everything, he comes up with another brilliance to show that nothing is impossible in a cricket field. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly feels that Kohli can be clubbed in the same pedigree as the famed batting quarter of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag.

“It has been a superb performance from India. To see them 3-0 up in a six-match ODI series in South Africa, especially after losing the Test series, speaks volumes of the character shown by Virat Kohli and his boys. I have been fortunate enough to play with and against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Ricky Ponting, and Brian Lara, and this man is right up there with all of them. What stands out for me is not just his amazing control and his ability to adjust but also the energy and intensity he brings to his batting in each and every innings.” Ganguly wrote in his column for Times of India.

Kohli’s dominance

Kohli scored his 34th hundred in his 205th One-day international. He averages 57.35 in ODIs and is currently the No.1 ranked batsman in the world. He has transformed the manner in which the game is played and has had a big role to play in India’s success over the past few years.

Ganguly was also full of praises for the spin-twins who have sucked the life out of the South African batsmen even on pitches that haven’t provided many turns. Chahal and Kuldeep have accounted for 21 of the 30 wickets in just three matches. The Proteas have failed to execute their plans against the Indian spinners which have accounted for their downfall.

The Proteas will be relieved that their talisman AB De Villiers will be back for the fourth ODI. However, De Villiers must emulate his RCB skipper if the Proteas wish to avoid a series defeat against the Men in Blue. The other players must also be at their best to have a chance of weathering the Indian storm.