Virat Kohli's fighting spirit, the energy, and the passion to do well make him legendary: Viv Richards

The legendary Viv Richards highlighted some of the qualities that make Virat Kohli one of the finest batters to have played the game of cricket.

Kohli has been struggling with the bat in the red-ball format for quite some time. Fans were concerned about his form heading into the Champions Trophy 2025. The stalwart fell cheaply in the first game against Bangladesh. However, he returned to form emphatically in the second game against Pakistan, scoring an unbeaten century to guide the Men in Blue to a comprehensive win.

Richards, who is arguably the finest West Indies batter, lauded Kohli's fighting spirit and the ability to turn things around after going through a lean patch.

"I think he answers all of us really. I guess he had to work up before these ODIs. He wasn't doing that well, and then he came back in magnificent form. So that is a true testament to the character that we're speaking about, and this is why I put him in the category of being great and legendary," Richards said while speaking to India Today.

"It's not all the time that you get players who - when they are down, can come back. But it's just his fighting spirit, the energy, the passion to do well, that's why I put them up there with the very best. He's able to go through bad times and then to all the bad times, they become good," he added.

Glenn Phillips' stunner of a catch ends Kohli's stay against New Zealand

Fans were hoping for another big knock from Kohli in India's last group-stage clash against New Zealand on Sunday, March 2, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, the 36-year-old was in absolute shock after Glenn Phillips made a sensational one-handed catch at backward point to end his stay at the crease.

Also Read: Virat Kohli completes 300 ODIs, becomes 7th Indian to do so

Kohli could only score 11 off 14 balls as he was dismissed by Matt Henry. India lost their third wicket in the seventh over as openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had already departed before the Delhi batter.