Mumbai: The 25-year-old cricketer has been the most consistent performer in the Indian team in 2013 both in ODIs as well as Tests. Kohli, who was part of India’s tour of South Africa, could not be reached for his reaction as the team travelled back home later in the day.
Kohli has been the most prolific batsman in the circuit for some time. He has impressed with his maturity and quick learning. He is bold and never afraid to take on any kind of attack. That is what sets him apart him from his contemporaries.
In Tests, too, he was not far behind. From eight matches, he accumulated 616 runs at an average of 56 including two hundreds and three 50s. However, the best part of the year for him would be the promotion in batting order to the hallowed No. 4 slot that was once occupied by none other than Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli has, in two matches, excelled in that position. An innings of 119 followed by 96 in the first Test against South Africa saw India dominate the hosts. However, the match ended in a draw.
In the one-dayers, Kohli has bailed India out of trouble time and again.
Not only that, the youngster also equaled the great West Indian batsman Viv Richard’s record, becoming the fastest to score 5,000 ODI runs. Kohli reached the landmark in his 114th innings, the same as Richards, when he scored 86 for India in the first ODI against West Indies in Kochi. He has not restricted himself to the role of batsman. He showed his leaderships skills, too, when he was rewarded with captaincy by the selectors for the tour of Zimbabwe. India won the five-match series 5-0.
The superstar of Indian cricket not only leads the cricket field, but is also one of the sought after stars of the advertising world. He endorses close to 15 brands and reportedly demands Rs 3.5 crore to Rs 5 crore.
Bureau Report
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