"Virat Kohli Back To...": Ex-India Star's Big Warning To England Ahead Of Test Series
Last year, Virat Kohli broke India great Sachin Tendulkar's record of most ODI centuries during the World Cup.
- NDTV Sports Desk
- Updated: January 22, 2024 04:13 PM IST
!["Virat Kohli Back To...": Ex-India Star's Big Warning To England Ahead Of Test Series](https://c.ndtvimg.com/2023-12/2dnlpelo_virat-kohli-afp_625x300_29_December_23.jpg?im=FeatureCrop,algorithm=dnn,width=806,height=605)
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has warned England regarding the form of star batter Virat Kohli ahead of a five-match Test series, starting January 25. Irfan feels Kohli is back to his best, having shown great composure during the Test series against South Africa recently. The former India captain fought a lone battle in the first Test in December 2023, but the visitors lost the game by a hefty margin. He also scored a 46 on a trick pitch in the second Test which ended inside two days in Cape Town.
Irfan pointed out that Kohli's improved footwork and aggressive mindset might help him to score a lot of runs against England.
"Virat Kohli is back at his very best, this is good news for Indian cricket and Virat Kohli fans. He was exceptional in South Africa and his foot movement was brilliant. He is showing aggressive signs with his footwork and that might help him score runs in England series," Irfan said on Star Sports.
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar recently claimed that had Virat played in his era, he could have faced difficulties but still would have scored the runs he has scored so far.
"Virat would have been competitive (in our era). He could have faced difficulties but he would have scored the runs he has scored now. We would have faced a similar beating. But playing Wasim Akram is not easy. Virat is Virat. He is the greatest batsman of this era. Both eras cannot be compared. Hats off to him. I want him to get hundred centuries," Akhtar told ANI.
In 522 international matches, Virat has scored 26,733 runs at an average of 54.11, with 80 centuries and 139 half-centuries in 580 innings. His best score is 254*. He is also the first player to get 50 ODI centuries.
Last year, Kohli broke India great Sachin Tendulkar's record of most ODI centuries (49). Kohli scored his 50th hundred in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, with Tendulkar in attendance for the match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.