Former England captain Michael Vaughan has long been a fan of Virat Kohli’s cricketing prowess. After witnessing Kohli’s dominance across various match formats, Vaughan didn’t hold back in expressing his admiration, calling Kohli the best batsman in the world across all three formats of the game. His comments are particularly significant because they emphasize Kohli’s versatility and adaptability, traits that are critical in modern-day cricket where players must constantly adjust between Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
This recognition from Vaughan came after Kohli scored his 27th Test century during India’s first-ever pink-ball Test match against Bangladesh in November 2019. The iconic match, held at Eden Gardens, saw Kohli become the first Indian to score a century in a pink-ball Test, further establishing his supremacy on the international stage. Kohli’s consistency across formats was a recurring theme in Vaughan’s praise, as the Indian skipper seamlessly transitioned between the red ball, white ball, and now the pink ball, all while maintaining an exceptional standard of play.
Kohli’s ability to perform under pressure is a hallmark of his career. Whether it’s guiding India to victory in a tense ODI or leading from the front in a five-day Test match, Kohli has demonstrated time and again why he is considered one of the best. His mental strength, aggressive batting style, and meticulous preparation have allowed him to thrive in the high-pressure environment of international cricket.
Another major aspect of Kohli’s greatness is his fitness and work ethic. Often regarded as one of the fittest athletes in the game, Kohli transformed his approach to fitness early in his career. His dedication to maintaining peak physical condition has not only improved his personal performance but has also set a new standard within the Indian team. This focus on fitness has enabled Kohli to be at the top of his game in all formats, making it difficult for bowlers to find any weaknesses in his play.
For Vaughan, Kohli’s dominance in Test cricket is particularly noteworthy, as Test matches require a distinct set of skills compared to limited-overs cricket. Test cricket demands patience, technique, and the ability to adapt to different pitch conditions. Kohli’s Test career, which includes several match-winning centuries on foreign soil, is a testament to his mastery of the longer format. His performances in Australia, England, and South Africa, where conditions are often challenging for subcontinental players, have solidified his reputation as a global cricketing superstar.
However, it’s not just Kohli’s Test career that Vaughan admires. His accomplishments in ODIs and T20Is are equally impressive. Kohli holds numerous records in limited-overs cricket, including being the fastest player to reach 10,000 runs in ODIs. His ability to chase down targets in ODIs is unmatched, earning him the moniker of “chase master.” Kohli’s aggressive approach and ability to maintain a high strike rate in T20Is also make him one of the most feared batsmen in the shortest format of the game.
Vaughan’s high regard for Kohli is shared by many in the cricketing world. Kohli has consistently been compared to the greats of the game, including Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Brian Lara. While each of these legends made their mark on the game, what sets Kohli apart is his ability to dominate across all three formats. In an era where cricket has become more specialized, with many players excelling in only one or two formats, Kohli’s success across all formats is truly remarkable.
As Kohli continues to break records and achieve new milestones, it’s clear that he is not just a great cricketer of his generation, but one of the greatest of all time. His hunger for runs, unmatched work ethic, and ability to lead from the front have made him an icon of modern-day cricket. For Vaughan and many others, there is little doubt that Virat Kohli is the best batsman across all formats in the world today.