Former India opener Aakash Chopra lauded ex-India captain Virat Kohli for his longevity in the game, fitness, and for being a match-winner for so long. These words came before the first Test of the five-match series between India and England that will be played in Hyderabad from January 25.

Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on superstar batter Virat Kohli, saying he is back among the Fab-4 of Test cricket. India's Kohli, Australia's Steve Smith, England's Joe Root, and New Zealand's Kane Williamson are considered the Fab-4 of Test cricket.

Kohli has scored 8,848 runs in 113 Test matches for India at an average of 49.15 while scoring 30 fifties, 29 hundreds, and seven double-hundreds.

“Yours truly also said that he is no longer part of the Fab 4. He is now, by the way. It was about the runs at that time, in that period of two years, but he is back again. Steve Smith has fallen away. Kane Williamson is also going 50-50 but this guy is still there. He was there then also and has returned now,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.

Chopra also added that the struggles Kohli went through in recent times and his comeback post that makes his story even more beautiful.

IND v ENG 2024: “We have Viratball to counter Bazball”- Sunil Gavaskar ahead of England Test series

“The way he has made a comeback has made his story even more beautiful. It seemed like things were done and dusted and you came and played a World Cup, and became the Player of the Tournament. You reinvented the wheel once again and reignited that passion,” Chopra added.

Virat Kohli is just 156 runs shy of becoming the fourth India to 9000 Test runs and Chopra said Kohli has had a massive impact on the game, winning matches for India and getting an entire generation fit.

“If you have to judge a player's greatness, there are three or four parameters. One in longevity. He is 35 and it seems like he can play for four more years. Then you see his impact on the game. He wins matches and has made an entire generation fit. He has had a massive impact.

Another important aspect is how you adapt across three formats - he does that. Then, of course, the sheer records, the numbers. The numbers don't lie about him - 50 ODI centuries, four double centuries in a year in Tests, nearly 1000 runs in an IPL season,” Chopra added.

Virat Kohli will love to better the England challenge that begins in Hyderabad.

(India Today inputs)