Abdul Qadir compares Virat Kohli with Imran Khan

When Virat Kohli had replaced MS Dhoni as the India skipper, there were apprehensions all around over whether the batsman could replicate the feat of his illustrious predecessor. Fast forward four years and Kohli has exceeded all the expectations. The Delhi star is well on his way of creating his own legacy both as a player and as a captain. With every passing game or series, he is achieving unprecedented heights.

With the bat, Kohli is head and shoulders above his contemporaries and is showing no signs of slowing down. At just 30, he has left behind the likes of Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly, Sanath Jayasuriya and other greats of the game to become the second highest ODI centurion.

The India skipper has already scored over 10,000 ODI runs and has scored over 6,000 runs in Tests. Ranked number one in both Tests and ODIs as the batsman, Kohli was recently named Cricketer of the year and won the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for the second time in succession. He was also named the ODI player of the year.

As a captain, Kohli recently led India to their first Test series win on Australian soil and also the first bilateral ODI series win. He also led India to a rare ODI series win in New Zealand. And with him reaching further heights with every passing day, former Pakistan spinner Abdul Qadir has compared him with the legendary Imran Khan. Qadir has said that Kohli, as a batsman and captain, has similar traits to that Imran had during his playing days.

“If I look at Virat Kohli as a batsman and captain… I can say he is similar to Imran in the manner that he, like Imran, sets an example by doing something himself and then expects his team to do the same,” Qadir was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

“I wouldn’t compare the two (Kohli, Khan) but, if I look at Kohli, he also has this ability to lead from the front,” Qadir, who has 236 Test wickets to his name, added.

Kohli leads by example

Qadir said that Virat Kohli is yet to match Imran’s persona but hailed him for leading by an example. “Kohli also (like Khan) takes responsibility and performs and forces the other players to perform,” Qadir said. “If I talk about Imran, the sort of personality he had and his ability to get performance out of his players… I don’t think Kohli is there as yet. But no doubt the Indian captain also leads by example,” he added.

Kohli, meanwhile, is currently on a much-needed break from cricket. The India star left the team in New Zealand after the win in the third ODI. Kohli is likely to be seen in action next when Australia arrive in India for a limited-overs tour later this month.

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