Mohammad Amir Finds Comparisons Between Kohli, Babar, Smith, and Root Ridiculous

Dubai (UAE), Dec 21 (NationPress) With a remarkable tally of 8,947 runs in Test cricket, 13,906 in ODIs, and 4,188 runs in T20Is, Virat Kohli is celebrated as the greatest batsman of his era. Nonetheless, various individuals have recently initiated comparisons between him and Babar Azam from Pakistan, Steve Smith from Australia, and Joe Root from England. Given that the former Indian captain has faced challenges in scoring runs over the last few years, a number of analysts have hastily declared their preferred players as superior to Kohli.

However, Pakistan's recently retired fast bowler Mohammad Amir firmly asserts that Kohli is indeed the greatest player of this generation. "Virat Kohli is the greatest batsman of this generation and comparisons with Babar, Smith or Root make me laugh," Amir stated during a recent podcast.

During his appearance on the Cricket Predicta Show, Amir elaborated, "Virat Kohli is the greatest player of this generation. I find it amusing when comparisons arise between him and Babar Azam, Steve Smith, or Joe Root. It’s impossible to compare Virat Kohli with anyone else due to his match-winning performances for India across all formats, which is a remarkable achievement for any single player."

"The dedication Virat Kohli exhibits sets him apart from all other players. Following his challenging period in England in 2014, the way he staged a comeback and consistently excelled for the subsequent decade was extraordinary. His wicket in the 2017 Champions Trophy final was crucial for our victory, as we all know how exceptional Virat’s record is while chasing runs," Amir explained.

Amir holds a favorable head-to-head record against Kohli, having dismissed the Indian batting icon on two occasions, specifically in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the ICC ODI World Cup 2019.

Amir shared captivating anecdotes about dismissing Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, along with insights about his life on the Cricket Predicta Show with founder Sunil Yash Kalra.

He reflected on dismissing Sachin Tendulkar for the first time as a highlight of his career. "Dismissing Sachin Tendulkar was the most significant moment for me. I bowled to him only once in my life during the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa, and managed to get him out while playing against India. It was a surreal experience as I had always admired his brilliance as a batsman," said Amir, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Tendulkar was at the zenith of his batting skills when Amir entered international cricket and was considered a prized wicket for every bowler. Therefore, bowling to the legendary batsman in the 2009 Champions Trophy was a monumental achievement for Amir.

"Bowling to Sachin Tendulkar was a significant milestone for me. For three days after taking his wicket, I was in disbelief; I couldn’t fathom that I had dismissed Sachin Paaji. Being new to cricket, and given Sachin’s deep understanding of the game, I was both excited and nervous. When my captain handed me the ball, my heart raced. I took a deep breath and bowled to him, feeling exactly as I did the first time I met Wasim Akram," recalled Amir.

Notably, it was during the sixth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 in South Africa, where Pakistan triumphed over their long-time rivals India by 54 runs. Mohammad Amir secured two vital wickets, including those of Sachin Tendulkar and power-hitter Yusuf Pathan, concluding with impressive figures of 2/46 in eight overs.