SA vs IND 2018: Sourav Ganguly believes Virat Kohli ranks with India’s Fab Four

AB de Villiers comes back in the SA squad for the last 3 ODIs.

Sourav Ganguly | PTI

Former Indian skipper –Sourav Ganguly is highly impressed with Virat Kohli’s energy and intensity that he brings to his game in each and every innings.

He further said that the dashing right-hander have now all brilliance to be included in the famed batting club of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag.

Ganguly also appreciated the effort of the Indian Team, which came into the One Day series after losing Freedom Series and now they are up with 3-0 in the six-match ODI series in South Africa.

In his column for Times of India, Sourav Ganguly wrote, “It has been a superb performance from India. To see them 3-0 up in a six-match ODI series in South Africa, especially after losing the Test series, speaks volumes of the character shown by Virat Kohli and his boys.”

Virat Kohli’s scores read 112, 46*, and 160* in his last outings in ODI cricket, while he completed his 34th ODI ton in the ongoing series, which came in his just 205 matches, now only behind Sachin Tendulkar in the list of most ODI hundreds. Kohli’s this master class with the willow has forced Ganguly to put him in the same league featuring likes of Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Sehwag, Dravid, Sachin, and Laxman.

He further added, “I have been fortunate enough to play with and against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Ricky Ponting, and Brian Lara, and this man is right up there with all of them. What stands out for me is not just his amazing control and his ability to adjust but also the energy and intensity he brings to his batting in each and every innings. To get to 34 ODI centuries so quickly in his career is just out of the world. The fact that no other Indian batsman has touched a three-figure mark so far on this tour and only one South African has got a century shows what quality of batsmanship Kohli has displayed on this trip. And we still have a while to go!”

It is learned that South African batting superstar AB de Villiers will return for the must-win fourth ODI on Saturday which will definitely be a massive boost for the hosts, but Dada believes that he has to do a Kohli for his team to turn its fortunes in the series.

Commenting on South Africa Team, he wrote, “The South Africans have had some selection issues which have surprised many. Morne Morkel being left out on Wednesday raised some eyebrows, and he is a must in the next three games for them. Also, if Khaya Zondo and Phehlukwayo have to play for South Africa, they will have to raise their game more than what has been on display till now in the series. One has to deserve a place in an international side and at present that is not happening for them.”

Ganguly signed off by saying, “There are three more games left in the series and the good news for South Africa is that AB de Villiers will be back, but his mere presence will not help the fortunes of his side. He has to do a Kohli for his team to turn its fortunes around.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 09 Feb, 2018

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