There have been several instances of rival players praising Virat Kohli's batting. Now, here is an Australian who has anointed Kohli as "the greatest player of all time". This came after India sealed the ODI series against Australia in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: It was Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli show at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the third ODI against Australia on Sunday (January 19). Thanks to the duo’s impressive knocks, India sealed the series 2-1.
In the series-deciding contest, Rohit Sharma struck his 29th ODI ton and Kohli scored 89 as the hosts won by seven wickets while chasing 287.
Also read: India seal series in Bengaluru
The losing Australian skipper Aaron Finch heaped praise on Kohli and Rohit. He said Kohli is “probably the greatest ODI player of all time”.
“They've got Virat who is probably the greatest ODI player of all time, and Rohit who'd probably be in the top five batters of all-time. They're exceptional, and the thing with the Indian side at the moment is their experienced players are getting the job done in the big games,” Finch said after the match.
“Rohit's hundred, especially without Shikhar (Dhawan) there tonight, for them to shuffle and their two most dominant players to still get majority of the runs is a sign of a really settled and really quality top-order,” added Finch.
Also read: Virat Kohli makes big statement on Rishabh Pant
The 31-year-old Kohli has already shattered many records in international cricket. In 245 ODIs, he has accumulated 11,792 runs at an impressive average of 59.85 with 43 centuries and 57 fifties.
During the third ODI, India lost Shikhar to injury as he hurt his shoulder while fielding. The visitors had won the toss and opted to bat first. They were restricted to 286/9 in 50 overs.
INDIA WIN
A clinical performance by as they win by 7 wickets and clinch the series 2-1. pic.twitter.com/LnhgbjdDI8
Finch also praised India’s death bowling. “But credit to India, their death bowling in the last few games was exceptional. (Mohammed) Shami was nailing his yorkers, (Navdeep) Saini in the last two games and (Jasprit) Bumrah. In both games they were exceptional. You can look at where we could have improved but also you've got to give some credit to India.”
For Australia, Steve Smith’s century went in vain. His 131 was not enough. Australia had won the first ODI by 10 wickets in Mumbai but lost successive games to go down in the three-match rubber.
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