Salman Butt lauded Virat Kohli for making a huge impact on Indian cricket.
India captain Virat Kohli has succeeded in taking Indian cricket to new heights, especially in Test format. Being the captain, he has played a big role in building a strong Indian team under his leadership.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt praised Kohli and termed the current phase of Indian cricket under him as the "golden age". The record under Kohli's captaincy shows the improvement of the Indian cricket team over the years. The team now doesn't even lack a quality bench strength.
ALSO READ: ENG v IND 2021: Twitterati slam Nick Compton for calling Virat Kohli 'most foul-mouthed individual'
“A new era began in Indian cricket the day Virat Kohli made his international debut. The way he has proved himself to the world as a cricketer over the last 13 years, he is a sporting icon. The way he has transformed himself and his commitment to the game has been exemplary. He has been outstanding, something never seen before. He hasn’t been scored a hundred in the last two years… Imagine the kind of impact he has made on Indian cricket,” Butt said in a video posted on his Youtube channel.
Kohli has completed 13 years in international cricket, having made his debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on August 18, 2008. He proved his worth with the bat before taking over the captaincy role for India.
Butt said Kohli has already got the reputation that some greats earn at the end of their careers. “When he chases targets, he has an average of 90 and a strike rate of over 100, and a great success rate. His gestures are very clear to the opposition. But he is an inspiration for all the youngsters.
"Kohli has built the kind of reputation some cricketers earn at the end of their careers. This era of Indian cricket is lucky to have Kohli. The impact of Kohli on Indian cricket will be felt even after he moves on. I would say this is the golden age of Indian cricket.”