When it comes to Virat Kohli, loyal cricket fans are undoubtedly aware of the fact that he is currently the best batsman in the world, across formats. Although he is yet to taste ICC tournament ICC success as the skipper, he has dominated as a batsman worldwide and is looking to do the same in the upcoming tour of Australia.
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One of the most notable characteristics of him is his aggressive nature, which is evident in his batting. Meanwhile, owing to the same, former Australian skipper, Mark Taylor feels that it is this very nature that makes Kohli 'a very powerful guy' in world cricket.
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"I think he is a very powerful guy in world cricket, but I think he does a very good job to walk that fine line in being an aggressive cricketer and also a statesman. I think he's doing it very well," Taylor told Sydney Morning Herald.
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"I think he treats that responsibility with great respect. He's still very much his own person when you watch him play. I've always found him in the times I've spoken to him to be very respectful to the game and those playing it and those who have played it," added Taylor.
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Taylor is not the first Australian legend to heap praise on Kohli. Greg Chappell, who had coached India between 2005-06, also said that Kohli is a guy who never backs out from expressing his opinion.
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"I think he's certainly one of the best players and one of the most influential players in world cricket at the moment. He has strong views, he's quite happy to speak those views, he's quite happy to put himself out there and back himself to back up his words," Chappell said, reports PTI.
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"He loves Test cricket and while he's playing India will treat Test cricket with respect because he has a big say in Indian cricket. That's a good thing. If you have a captain of India who is not interested in Test cricket that will impact the scene. Virat loves Test cricket, he champions Test cricket, and while that's happening India will play Test cricket," added Chappell.
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Kohli would be leading the side in Australia, in the ODIs and T20Is, while he would just be featuring in a Tests. Kohli would fly back to India after the opening Test in Adelaide, as he looks to be with his Bollywood wife, Anushka Sharma, who is due to give birth to their first child in January.
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Meanwhile, former Australia coach Darren Lehmann feels that this would make Kohli hungry and determined to win the matches he features in, especially the opening Test. "That's just the way he plays; he plays full of energy and doesn't want to lose," he said.
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"He always pushes the boundaries, but that's what great players do. He wants to win every game. That was one of the more fiery ones [2017 series] going around in recent years," concluded Lehmann.
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