Shoaib Akhtar Praises Virat Kohli as the Best Batter of the Modern Era

Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, commending him as the best batter of the modern era. Akhtar, who is currently in the UAE for the second season of the International League T20 as a brand ambassador and commentator, expressed his admiration for Kohli’s achievement of completing 50 ODI centuries and wished for him to reach the milestone of a century of centuries.

Reflecting on their playing eras, Akhtar compared Kohli to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, stating that while Tendulkar faced challenges playing with only one ball that would reverse-swing against some of the best bowlers in the world, Kohli would have also excelled in their era despite potential difficulties. Akhtar further acknowledged Tendulkar as the greatest ever, alongside other legends like Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Wasim Akram, and Shane Warne.

Kohli has undeniably been a dominant force in modern cricket, with his exceptional consistency and impressive batting records. In his 522 international matches, he has amassed a staggering 26,733 runs at an average of 54.11. This includes 80 centuries and 139 half-centuries across all formats, with the distinction of being the first player to score 50 ODI centuries.