Kohli most complete player around, says Root

Published October 25, 2020
England Test captain Joe Root considers his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli as currently the most complete player around. — Reuters/File
England Test captain Joe Root considers his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli as currently the most complete player around. — Reuters/File

NEW DELHI: England Test captain Joe Root considers his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli as currently the most complete player around and said he expects England team-mate Jos Buttler to soon replicate his limited-overs dominance in Test cricket.

Root himself is considered one of the four best batsmen in contemporary cricket, alongside the prolific Kohli, Australian run-machine Steve Smith and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

“You’re looking at three of the greatest players the game has seen,” Root told The Analyst’s Virtual Cricket Club. “They’re three brilliant people to watch play and learn from. I’m not sure I’d put myself in their bracket, to be honest.”

While he admired Smith’s hunger for big scores and Williamson’s all-surface defence, Root was particularly impressed by Kohli’s versatility.

“Virat is probably the most complete player out of the three of them across formats. His ability to chase things down in the limited-overs format and to pace it as well as he does as often as he does and be not out at the end is extraordinary,” Root noted. “He’s got a very good all-round game but you wouldn’t say he’s weaker against spin or pace.”

Root, meanwhile, has high expectations from England’s limited-overs stalwarts Buttler who is yet to reach the same high in Test cricket.

“Jos has been the most complete white-ball batsman we’ve had ever,” Root said. “I think he’s a phenomenal player and I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. Hopefully this summer in Test cricket can unlock doors for him.

“I saw a piece about [South Africa great] A.B. de Villiers and he said it took him 50 Tests to work out his Test game. I think it’s very similar to Jos, to be honest.”

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.