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Sir Viv Richards lavished praise on batting juggernaut Virat Kohli and said that the Indian cricket star continues to affirm his status as one of the all-time greats during the World Cup 2023. Kohli's remarkable performance positioned him as one of the top run-scorers in the tournament, amassing a total of 543 runs in eight innings and secured the second spot on the leaderboard just behind South Africa's Quinton de Kock with 550 runs.
Kohli's standout moments included a high score of 103 not out and a consistent display of good form throughout the World Cup. During a match against Sri Lanka on November 2, 2023, he added 88 runs to his tally and brought his career total of 1472 World Cup runs.
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A highlight of Kohli's World Cup 2023 campaign was his 49th ODI hundred, achieved in 173 matches, faster than his idol Sachin Tendulkar. This milestone occurred in a crucial match against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 5, 2023.
In his column on the ICC's official website, Richards, a West Indies legend, expressed his long-standing admiration for Kohli and commended the Indian management for supporting him through challenging times.
"There have been a whole host of talented individuals on show but to top them all, you cannot look past Virat. I am a huge fan of Virat, I have been for a long time, and he continues to show why he has to go down as one of the all-time greats, right up there with the likes of the great Sachin”, said Richards.
"Virat will have been through some tough times before this World Cup and some folks were even brave enough to call for his head."
"Credit must be given to the backroom staff and everyone who backed him. So much was said about his form but he is back on top of his game. It is phenomenal to see an individual who has had his low points bouncing back and playing like this. They say form is temporary – and he has certainly proven that class is permanent. I am so happy for him, he looks so focused and he is a credit to the game of cricket”, he added.
Richards highlighted Kohli's mental strength, describing him as a go-getter, and appreciated his enthusiasm on the field, drawing parallels to their shared intensity during their playing days. Richards concluded by expressing happiness for Kohli, noting his focused and creditable contribution to the game of cricket.
"Virat is a go-getter and what sets him apart is his mental strength. He will have backed himself throughout, and on the occasions in the past in which I have chatted with him and we have discussed things, his mental strength has always been evident. That has been key to pushing him through to how he is playing now. Very few players, or people, are built like that”, he continued.
"Many people have made comparisons between the two of us over the years, partly because of our shared intensity on the field. I love Virat's enthusiasm – even if he is fielding at long-on or long-off, when one of his bowlers hits the pad, he is appealing. He is always in the game and I like individuals like that”, he concluded.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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