Cricket

Why Foreign Minister S Jaishankar ranks Virat Kohli over Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar

May 30, 2024

Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Sunil Gavaskar and S Jaishankar

Virat Kohli ranks among the most revered athletes in cricketing circles, captivating fans globally with his exceptional batting skills and on-field performances. With his inclusion in India‘s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, fans eagerly await remarkable innings from him.

Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar praised Kohli and favoured him over legendary cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

S Jaishankar cites the reason behind choosing Virat Kohli over Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar

During a conversation on Sushant Sinha‘s YouTube channel, Jaishankar, a devoted cricket enthusiast, deliberated on selecting the finest cricketer among Sachin, Gavaskar, and Kohli. Without hesitation, the minister endorsed Kohli, citing the cricketer’s exceptional fitness and attitude, during games.

“3 of them are great, but I have a bias on this and the bias is because of fitness and hence, Kohli. 3 of them are different, but my bias is towards the direction of Kohli, because I like his fitness and attitude,” said Jaishankar on Sushant’s YouTube channel.

Also READ: Latest ICC rankings for India, Pakistan, USA, West Indies & other teams ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

Kohli’s impressive performance in IPL 2024

Kohli showcased exceptional form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, earning the Orange Cap as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 714 runs in 15 matches, boasting an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.70. He achieved this feat with 5 fifties and a century to his credit, along with smashing 38 sixes. Remarkably, the 35-year-old batter became the first Indian and the third overall, after Chris Gayle and David Warner, to win the Orange Cap twice. The outstanding performance of the Delhi-born cricketer played a pivotal role in RCB orchestrating one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of the lucrative league. Though the team led by Faf du Plessis managed to qualify for the playoffs, they failed to clinch their inaugural title after facing defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator.