Virat Kohli, the enigmatic Indian batsman, has earned the admiration of legendary English pacer James Anderson for his exceptional skills in chasing down targets and closing out games, particularly in white-ball cricket.
Anderson, a guest on the Tailenders Podcast, hailed Kohli as “one of the best” players in history when it comes to batting second and pursuing scores. “His record at chasing is absolutely phenomenal,” Anderson remarked. “The number of hundreds he has scored in the second innings, chasing down scores is ridiculous.”
Anderson attributed Kohli’s remarkable chasing abilities to his unwavering self-belief. “It is no surprise that when he gets in that situation, with his mentality, it is just like it is meant to be. His self-belief is so high,” Anderson said.
When asked if Kohli is the greatest white-ball batter of all time, Anderson acknowledged the brilliance of Australia’s Michael Bevan, who was renowned for his impressive finishes in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, he emphasized that Kohli’s centuries during winning chases elevate him to the status of “greatest finisher” and among the greatest white-ball batters ever.
“I cannot say that [Kohli is the greatest white-ball batter ever],” Anderson clarified. “I was thinking more in terms of just chasing. [As for the best white-ball batter ever,] Michael Bevan from Australia comes to my mind, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s – he was just phenomenal coming in at number six and doing that job.”
“Kohli batting at number 3 gets those hundreds while Bevan was renowned for getting his 50s, 60s and being at the end, while Kohli gets the big score, to get his teams over the line. I honestly can’t think of a better finisher and greater white-ball players than him [Kohli],” Anderson concluded.
Kohli’s exceptional chasing skills have been instrumental in India’s success in limited-overs cricket. His ability to anchor the innings, control the tempo, and accelerate when necessary has made him a formidable force in the middle order. His composure under pressure and unwavering determination have earned him the respect and admiration of opponents and fans alike.
