NEW DELHI: Legendary West Indies cricketer Brian Lara expressed high praise for Indian batter Virat Kohli, citing him as an example of commitment and dedication.
Speaking at the Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture in Kolkata, Lara revealed that if his son were to pursue any sport, he would use Kohli's qualities to inspire him.
Kohli's outstanding performances during the recently-concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 caught Lara's attention. Despite India falling short in the final against Australia, Kohli's batting prowess left a lasting impression.
"I have a son and I can tell you that if my son has to play any sport, I will be using Kohli's commitment and dedication to not just add to his strength, but whatever it takes to become a Number one sportsman," Lara said, commending Kohli's commitment and dedication.
The West Indies legend emphasised that while some may downplay Kohli's contributions due to India's team result, individual success is a crucial aspect of team sports.
"First of all, for Virat Kohli, I know a lot of people will say or have already said that Kohli's performance does not matter as India did not win the World Cup. Team sport is about winning and you, as an individual player, have to have that as your No.1 target. But a subsidiary of team success is individual success, and this is what Kohli has given India match after match throughout the World Cup," Lara said.
Lara acknowledged Kohli's impact on the game, noting how he has transformed the approach to preparation and discipline in cricket.
1/10:Indian captains' record in ODI finals since 1990
Getty Images
2/10:ODI finals
<p>A look at history tells us that India have underperformed in finals including ODI ones in the last three decades or so. </p>PTI
3/10:MS Dhoni
<p>Apart from Azharuddin and MS Dhoni, Indian captains have an unflattering record in final games in 3-plus tournaments. </p>Getty Images
4/10:Mohammad Azharuddin
<p>Mohammad Azharuddin won 11 finals as skipper out of 19 from 1991-99, with a winning percentage of 72.73. </p>Getty Images
5/10:Sachin Tendulkar
<p>The great Sachin Tendulkar, from 1996 to 99, won just 1 final out of 6, lost 3 and 2 were No Results, with a winning percentage of 25.00. </p>Getty Images
6/10:Ajay Jadeja
<p>Ajay Jadeja led India in 2 ODI finals in 1999 and lost both. </p>Getty Images
7/10:Sourav Ganguly
<p>Sourav Ganguly had a dismal record of 10 losses in 14 finals with the saving grace being the 2002 Natwest triumph, with 3 No Results, and a winning percentage of 9.09 from 2000-05. </p>Getty Images
8/10:Rahul Dravid
<p>Rahul Dravid led India in 2 ODI finals from 2003-05 and lost both. </p>Getty Images
9/10:Mahendra Singh Dhoni
<p>Mahendra Singh Dhoni, from 2008-13, won 7 ODI finals out of 11, losing 4 with a winning percentage of 63.64. </p>TNN
10/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli led India in 1 ODI final - the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan - and lost by 180 runs. </p>Getty Images"What impresses me most about Kohli is his true legacy, for he has changed the face of cricket and how you prepare for the game. The discipline that he has stands out, always," Lara said.
Kohli emerged as the leading run-scorer in the World Cup 2023, amassing 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62. His remarkable achievements included becoming the first batter to hit 50 ODI centuries, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in a single edition of the World Cup, and registering the most fifty-plus scores in a single World Cup.
In Lara's eyes, Kohli's impact extends beyond statistics, and his commitment to excellence sets him apart as a role model for aspiring athletes. Kohli's dedication to his craft continues to inspire admiration from cricket legends and fans alike.
(With inputs from ANI)
