Virat Kohli is the best batsman in the world: Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh has heaped lavish praise on Virat Kohli, describing him as the best batsman in the world, Cricket Australia’s official website reports. The former Australian skipper said that he is impressed by the 26-year-old’s passion of the game and claimed that Kohli, along with Ajinkya Rahane, will go down in history as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

The 50-year-old is currently in India and recently set up a real estate portal that will cater specifically to the non-resident Indians who are looking to buy property in India. Waugh took time out to have his say on Kohli, who is currently on a high after leading India to their first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 1993.

Kohli’s form might have taken a dip from his earlier days but he is still one of the leading batsmen in the world as reflected by his No 1 and No 3 world ICC ranking in T20s and ODIs respectively. Steven Smith’s and Joe Root’s outstanding form over the last year has kept Kohli out of the limelight, but Waugh is in no doubt as to who the best player is.

"I think he (Kohli) is probably the best batsman in the world," Waugh told The Mumbai Mirror. “Technically, he is fantastic.”

Waugh went on to claim that he has told his son Austin, who was recently named in Australia’s Under-16 team, to emulate Kohli’s style of play.

“I have a 16- year-old son and I have told him 'if you need someone as your role model, I think he should be Virat Kohli'. He should aspire to play like him,” he said.

Despite his abilities as a batsman, Kohli has divided opinion among the cricket fans with some feeling that the Indian Test skipper’s aggressiveness is a bit too much. Waugh, however, doesn’t think so.

"I like aggression in players if it can be controlled. Sometimes, Virat crosses the line a little bit but I like his passion,” Waugh said.

Kohli made his ODI debut seven years ago, but still only 26, has plenty of years of cricket still ahead of him and Waugh believes that when Kohli does call time on his career, he will go down as a legend in the game. The Australian had the same words for Kohli’s middle-order colleague Rahane as well.

"Virat Kohli will go down as an all-time great. I think (Ajinkya) Rahane will also get into that category," Waugh said.