Steve Smith is the best Test player of this generation: Virat Kohli
Smith remained unbeaten at 95 against India in WTC Final on Day 1.
Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has classified Australian Steve Smith as the finest Test batter of this current era, considering his uniformity and "unbelievable" average of scoring runs. Kohli’s remarks on Smith come as a great compliment, as the former himself stands to be one of the batting stalwarts of the current generation. Smith stands out among batters in the previous ten years in the Test format because of his consistency, claims the 34-year-old, who made the statement before the World Test Championship Final.
Taking of WTC Final on Day 1, Australia scored a massive 327 for three at the end of the day due to thrilling innings from Travis Head and Steve Smith. At the conclusion of play on Day 1, Head and Smith had scores of 146 and 95, respectively, while Australia had gained 157 runs in the last session of 34 overs without losing a wicket. For the fourth wicket, the pair has put up an unbeaten partnership of 251 runs so far. Earlier, Australia, who were invited to bat, had added 97 runs in the post-lunch session in 28 overs for the loss of one wicket.
I haven’t seen any Test player doing that in the last 10 years: Kohli
Smith was praised by Kohli for his batting prowess, calling him the "best" of the modern age. The 34-year-old India star went on to say that Smith's batting stability is unmatched by any of his contemporaries. "According to me, Steve Smith is the best Test player of this generation. He has displayed that, his adaptability is absolutely brilliant. You take any cricketer of this generation. Everybody knows his record, in 85-90 Tests, he has an average of 60 which is quite unbelievable. The consistency and impact with which he scores runs, I haven't seen any Test player doing that in the last 10 years. It is credit to his skill and temperament," Kohli said to Star Sports.
Australian batter Smith entered the WTC final having amassed 8792 runs from 96 Tests at an average of 59.80, with 30 centuries and 37 half-centuries. The 34-year-old Kohli, who is recognized as the greatest batsman across all formats of his generation, has amassed 8416 runs from 108 Tests at an average of 48.93 as a result of 28 centuries and half-centuries each.
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