Virat Kohli: The Legend India

Flashback to 2008, when India won the U-19 world cup. The world saw a new leader in making, a leader who would soar to great heights and would establish himself in comparison to the likes of Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar, maybe stymying them. He was furious, full of energy and ready to prove himself. A fire burnt within him, some even thought it would be a cause of his own destruction. But he was adamant to reach the top. Virat Kohli, a true legend in the making, has surpassed all those fears and is an inspiration for many aspiring cricketers today. In 2016, he became more marketable than the likes of Lionel Messi, one of the most popular sportsman of the world.
Back in July 2016, Virat Kohli did something remarkable which only few cricketers have done till date. In the course of his double century in the Caribbean, he played no remarkable shot. Yet the class of the innings was such that it is remembered as one of the best in recent years. He felt no need to harass any bowler, made no mistakes, and drove India to victory from a paltry 74 for 2.
We have all seen his play. The perfection of his shots keeps getting better and better. We can almost anticipate the length of calculations that go behind each stroke coming out from his bat. Perfection defines Virat Kohli these days.
In the age of efficient technology and specialists all around, Kohli makes it look so easy to switch across different formats. His body balance and stamina would even give Usain Bolt a run for money. The longer he stays, the more the chances are of the team winning the match. Alternatively, it can also be said that he relishes tough challenges, a rare and remarkable quality not easily available. With all the records that he breaks with every innings. The comparison with Tendulkar is just inevitable. As ong as Tendulkar was there, there was hope. With Kohli, it is more of a certainty. The moment he comes in, the match is done. There have been many Indian batsmen before him who have been known for a particular format of cricket but not all, with Kohli this is hardly a problem. Not only do we see him conquering our hearts with his amazing batting skills, he is also great at the field too. He is like an electric flowing through the stadium.
Not only we have seen progress in his play, but he has also remarkably improved in his attitude towards the sport. The directs all his aggression to his bat, instead of his rival. The way he channelizes the raw energy is mind blowing. Few years ago, people raised their brows on his temperament. Today, nearly all of us agree how calm he has become, especially after he has been made the captain. A few years ago, Rahul Dravid said, “With every subsequent meeting, I see a better player emerging.” It is also a fact that Dravid is hardly wrong in his assessments.
Filling the shoes of the legends like Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Dhoni may be difficult. Whether he becomes one of them also remains to be seen. But with Kohli, nothing seems impossible.