Not MS Dhoni or Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma picks this star the only 'legend' he played with

India speedster Ishant Sharma admitted that when he started playing cricket, he felt like everyone around him had a special aura and seemed like legends. However, over time, as he gained experience, he realised that the one person who truly lived up to that image was Virat Kohli, his longtime teammate from Delhi.

Ishant lauded Virat, saying that what makes Kohli apart is his incredible focus. No matter what was happening off the field, it never affected his game. He always stayed fully committed to performing at his best.

ALSO READ: Abhishek Sharma likely to be part of India's ODI squad against Australia: Report

On the Raj Shamani podcast, Ishant started by discussing the cricketers who had a ‘legendary aura’ during his career. Although he came across multiple big names early on, it was Kohli who stood out.“See, when I first started playing, I used to feel everyone had that vibe, everyone was a legend. Later on, when I played, I felt that with just one person, Virat Kohli," Ishant said.

“His attitude was like that: I am here, I will get the job done. Nothing outside has affected his game. Whatever is happening outside, he knows that when he is on the field, he will score runs come what may," Ishant said.

“He (Kohli) has always been like that. Even if he has come back at 2 AM or 3 AM or batted overnight, the next day he would go out and score," Ishant added.

ALSO READ: Irfan Pathan's social media post taking a cheeky dig at Pakistan on India's historic T20 feat goes viral

Ishant, who was a part of the Kohli-led Test team that registered a Test series win against Australia on their home soil, lauded Kohli's focus on fitness that prolonged his career.

“I think he understood that if he wanted to play, he had to get fit. He is aware that fitness allows him to play long, keeps his reflexes fast and improves fielding. That change came about in 2011 after the World Cup and the IPL," Ishant said.

After announcing retirement from T20Is and Tests, Kohli will now be seen featuring in the three-match ODI series against Australia which is scheduled to start from October 19.