Despite superlatives to describe Virat Kohli’s jaw-dropping form drying with each passing day, tributes and praise continue to pour in for India’s Test captain. He’s meteoric rise as a batsman in the past few seasons, coupled with the aggressive, instinctive captaincy, has given shape to Test cricket in the country.
As he continues to change the face of Indian cricket with his superhuman acts, another dynamic figure, who helped his own side realise their potential in the last few seasons, has come forward in praise of the Delhi-lad. Brendon McCullum, former New Zealand captain who retired from international cricket early this year, complimented Kohli’s golden run, terming him as a “freak”.
While speaking to cricket.com.au ahead of his captaincy duties for the Brisbane Heat in the upcoming BBL season, McCullum said that Kohli has changed Indian cricket for the better, hailing the 28-year old for his professionalism.
"He's a freak. You look at his impact on one-day cricket, Test cricket, T20 cricket: all around the world, different conditions. And it's just effortless as well. He's also changed the game a little bit with his impact on Indian cricket already, (through) his levels of fitness”.
Since raising his fitness standards and regulating his diet after a sudden realisation in 2012, Kohli has become an icon for the youth, meticulously planning and measuring his regimen against the best of the world. Considered one of the fittest cricketers on the planet, his manner has brushed off on his teammates as well.
"He's an out-and-out superstar and he plays the game in the right way: he plays it hard on the field but he never really crosses the line I don't think, unless challenged in a different way," he said. "But he's an absolute superstar and I think the game is lucky to have him.
"If we look at Indian cricket over a period of time, they've always been immensely talented, but just with the high intensity he operates at on a consistent basis, he's taken that to a new level through his professionalism and his fitness”.
McCullum was instrumental in helping a young Kiwi side rise above their potential and become world beaters, a sea change that was highlighted by their performance in the World Cup last year, and their record in T20s in 2016.
In the company of coach Mike Hesson, McCullum created a core group of players who excelled in all three formats throughout 2015 and 2016. In February 2016, McCullum played his last Test for the Kiwis, scoring a 54-ball hundred and going past Adam Gilchrist’s record of most sixes in a Test career.
As for Kohli, the last few seasons have been a dream. His third double hundred of the year, the 235 he scored against England at the Wankhede, saw his career Test average go past 50 in all three formats, become the first cricketer to achieve this feat.
McCullum’s words should surely spur Kohli (if he really does need further motivation!) to further expand his reputation as one of the game’s modern greats.
