Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir has heaped praise on Virat Kohli, hailing him as the greatest batter of this generation. Amir emphasized that Kohli's unmatched consistency and knack for winning matches for India in all formats separate him from other star batters like Babar Azam, Steve Smith, and Joe Root. Amir firmly believes that Kohli's exceptional performances make any comparisons with his contemporaries irrelevant. Kohli's ability to deliver under pressure and lead his team to victory sets him apart as a truly exceptional player in the world of cricket.
"Virat Kohli is the greatest player of this generation. I laugh when comparisons are made between him and Babar Azam, Steve Smith, or Joe Root. We cannot compare Virat Kohli to anyone because he has won so many matches for India, which seems impossible for any one player. Not just in one format, but in all three formats, Virat is the greatest batsman of this generation," Amir said on the Cricket Predicta Show.
Amir also praised Kohli’s work ethic, highlighting his remarkable comeback after a difficult phase in England in 2014. The Pakistan pacer noted how Kohli transformed his game and maintained exceptional performance levels for over a decade.
"Virat Kohli’s work ethic sets him apart from all players. After his bad phase in England in 2014, the way he made a comeback and then consistently performed brilliantly for the next 10 years was no ordinary feat," Amir added.
He also pointed to Kohli's pivotal role in the 2017 Champions Trophy, where his wicket was key to Pakistan's victory. "His wicket in the 2017 Champions Trophy final was very important for us, which helped us win the final. If Virat had not been dismissed, we would have lost the final because we all know how exceptional Virat’s record is while chasing runs," Amir explained.
Amir on dismissing TendulkarIn addition to his admiration for Kohli, Amir also reminisced about a memorable moment from his early career – the dismissal of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in the 2009 Champions Trophy.
"Dismissing Sachin Tendulkar was the most special moment for me. I bowled to him only once in my life during the 2009 Champions Trophy, which was held in South Africa, and dismissed him while playing against India," Amir said.
The wicket, which came in only his second year of international cricket, left Amir in disbelief. "For three days after his dismissal, I was not in my senses; I could not believe I had taken Sachin paaji’s wicket," Amir recalled.
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