David Lloyd: Virat Kohli inflicts more damage, Sachin Tendulkar was easy on the eye
Kohli, who is currently leading his team in England in the ongoing five-Test series, has already aggregated 440 runs in three matches.
Mumbai: Former England cricketer David Lloyd was all praise for Team India skipper Virat Kohli, terming him as a ‘damaging’ player.
Kohli, who is currently leading his team in England in the ongoing five-Test series, has already aggregated 440 runs in three matches, which includes two half-centuries and as many centuries.
“Sachin Tendulkar was aesthetically very pleasing, easy on the eye. But if I had to win a game I would have banked on Brian Lara and I see that trait in Kohli. He is a bit like Viv Richards too – he can absolutely dominate an era. Sachin was a great player but Kohli can inflict more damage,” Lloyd was quoted saying by the Times of India.
“The way he (Kohli) constantly talks and inspires the bowlers is quite a treat,” he added.
Virat Kohli has always been an aggressive captain, and the 71-year-old termed the talismanic skipper as a ‘natural leader’.
“He obviously gets the respect because he is a fabulous player, but you can see that the emotion apart, he is very honest with his players as well. There’s been a massive turnaround in this Indian team in the way quick bowlers have taken over completely and I feel Kohli is the perfect man to develop them. He looks a natural leader.
“Kohli is such a broadcaster’s delight, he goes through every emotion on the field. I have met him outside cricket too, he is so polite, but on the field, he is so animated and it’s impossible to take the camera off him,” he continued.
He, however, did not write off the visitors’ chances of winning the series, who bounced back in the third Test with a 203-run win in Nottingham.
“Well, no other team but for Don Bradman’s 1936 side has done it…So it will be difficult. But in England this season, teams getting 300 should be in a position to win and I believe India would be in the game,”he added.
With India winning the latest Test, the series is now 2-1 in favour of the hosts. The fourth Test between the two sides will be played in Southampton, starting from August 30.