Monday 16 January 2017 10:29, UK
Nasser Hussain has hailed Virat Kohli an "incredibly special" player after the Indian captain’s century helped India to victory in the first ODI against England.
After England set India 351 to win, India stuttered to 63-4 before a 200-run partnership between Kohli and Kedar Jadhav (120) changed the game.
Although he was dismissed by Ben Stokes before the end, Kohli’s knock set up the win for India and has drawn praise from across the cricketing world.
“I think every cricketer watching him bat at the moment thinks we’ve got something special on our hands here,” Hussian told Sky Sports.
“He was incredible today. The shot he played off Chris Woakes’ slower ball bouncer, where he punched off the back foot, was one of the greatest cricket shots I’ve ever seen.
“You can talk the talk two days before the game and say ‘I want to push myself, I want to chase over 300’, then to go out and walk the walk is quite phenomenal. India are being led by someone incredibly special at the moment.”
Hussain spoke to Kohli a few days prior to the game for a batting demo, available to watch On Demand, and believes his attitude has helped set him apart, drawing comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I sensed when speaking to Kohli and watching him out here, that people make targets, as in ‘this is as good as I can get and I can’t get any better than that',” added Hussain.
“I think what Kohli is trying to do is push the boundary and raise the bar of everything he does. No-one says to him ‘being captain in three forms is too much for you’, no one says ‘you can chase 300 but can you chase 350 from 63-4?’
“Here is a bloke who is supremely talented but is constantly trying to tell himself and push himself to be better and better. That is a dangerous combination.
“I read out here that he prefers Ronaldo to [Lionel] Messi. Messi was given a lot of natural ability but he prefers Ronaldo, who has made himself the footballer that he is and pushed himself on and off football pitch - and that is what Kohli has done in cricketing terms.”
Watch the second ODI between India and England from 7.30 am on Thursday, Sky Sports 2.
Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 9 months half price. Hurry, offer ends January 16th!
