Not just Babar Azam, even comparisons of Virat Kohli with Joe Root or Steven Smith make Mohammad Amir chuckle. Why? In Amir’s eyes, no one matches Kohli’s caliber. For Amir, Kohli is the best of this generation.
Recently, Amir, who announced his second retirement from international cricket, shared his thoughts on the “Cricket Predicta” show. Throughout his career, the former Pakistani pacer has been a great admirer of Kohli’s batting prowess.
Reacting to comparisons between Kohli and the likes of Babar, Root, and Smith, Amir said, “Virat Kohli is the best of this generation. When I hear comparisons between Kohli, Babar, Joe Root, or Steve Smith, I just laugh. We can’t compare anyone to Virat Kohli because he has won matches for India that I believe would be impossible for others. Not in just one format, but across all formats. Virat Kohli is the best batsman of this generation.”
Kohli’s Record: A Legacy of Greatness
Amir has dismissed Kohli twice in international cricket—once during the 2017 Champions Trophy and again in the 2019 World Cup. Kohli’s consistency is reflected in his statistics: having played 541 matches for India across formats, he has helped his team secure 324 wins. Known as the “Chase Master” for his unmatched ability to lead successful run chases, Kohli ranks second on the all-time international century list with 81 tons in 606 innings, behind Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 centuries.
In comparison, Root has 52 centuries in 468 matches, and Smith has 45 in 404 innings. While Root leads current batsmen in Test centuries with 36 in 278 innings, Smith has 33 in 200 innings, and Kohli follows with 30 in 206 innings.
Amir on Kohli’s Work Ethic
Amir attributes Kohli’s longevity and success to his relentless hard work and dedication. “Virat Kohli’s hard work and commitment set him apart. After his poor form in England in 2014, the way he bounced back and consistently scored runs for the next decade is extraordinary,” Amir remarked.
Sachin Tendulkar: A Special Moment
Amir also spoke about the legend Sachin Tendulkar. The former pacer, who took 119 wickets in 36 Tests, 81 wickets in 61 ODIs, and 71 wickets in 62 T20Is, considers dismissing Tendulkar the highlight of his career.
“Getting Tendulkar out was the most special moment of my career. I bowled to him only once in my life, during the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa. It was against India, and I managed to dismiss him. For three days after that, I was in disbelief—I couldn’t believe I had taken Sachin bhai’s wicket.”
While Kohli hasn’t had the best run in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 126 runs in five innings at an average of 31.50 with a single century, Amir’s admiration for him remains unwavering.
