James Anderson highlights the difference between Virat Kohli in 2014 and 2018 tour of England

England’s paceman James Anderson is basking in joy as he added another feather to his illustrious cap by breaching the unthinkable mark of 600 wickets in the longest format of the game. Anderson registered himself as the first pacer to have achieved this remarkable feat in Test cricket during the third match of the three-match Test series against Pakistan.

Recently, the fast bowler heaped praises on the Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli. Reflecting on the growth in the batman’s career, Anderson highlighted the changes Kohli made to his game which helped him come back as “a completely different player” on the 2018 England tour.

Since his debut in 2008, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli has come a long way. From scoring 12 runs in his first ODI for India to amassing more than 21,000 international runs, Kohli has established himself as one of the greatest batsmen of the modern era.

On his first Test trip to England in 2014, the Delhi Stalwart had to struggle a lot against James. Also, he could only muster a total of 134 runs in 10 innings. However, while touring England again in 2018, the swashbuckling batsman had finished as the top run-scorer of the five-match series with 593 runs.

Virat Kohli came as a completely different player in 2018

While speaking on Test Match Special, the England paceman pointed out that the Kohli of 2018 was a lot more patient and skilled than the Kohli of 2014. In 2018, Virat emerged as a mentally stronger player who waited for the bowlers to come at him rather than taking the charge himself. The 38-year-old is looking forward to being up against the Indian skipper again if the England tour of India happens in 2021 as per schedule.

“It’s always tough bowling against batsmen of that quality. Obviously, I had some success against him in 2014; he came back a completely different player in 2018 and it was incredible. It’ll be a tough battle in that respect, but something I do enjoy against the best players. That’s who you want to get out as a bowler,” Anderson stated.

“I just felt like he left the ball really well. The first time he came over, when I was bowling an out-swinger, he’d try and chase it a little bit early on. So that brought the edge and slips into play. I just felt like he left a lot better [in 2018] and was a lot more patient, waited for you to come to him because he is very strong off his legs. And then once he got in, he’ll start playing a bit more expansively. I just thought his all-round game, both his mental approach and his technique was just that little bit better,” he added.