Matthew Hayden draws comparison between Virat Kohli and Ricky Ponting

After scoring four consecutive double tons in as many Test series’, Indian captain Virat Kohli is drawing praises from all quarters. And one bad day on the field hasn’t stopped that. This time around, it’s former Australian opener Matthew Hayden who heaped praises on the 28-year-old and also compared his batting style with that of the legendary Australian batsman and captain, Ricky Ponting.

“Virat Kohli, he reminds me a lot in his game with that of Ricky Ponting. They are quite similar, passively aggressive. It’s almost like there is a cocoon around their batting crease. Nothing really can penetrate Virat,” said Hayden at a book launch event in Bangalore on Thursday, where the teams are currently preparing for the second Test.

“Early days, I thought he was someone who didn’t have quite that control, but now he has mastered his own thinking. His performances are now so consistent. Even in the last few days he has come to the fore as a leader”

Hayden also praised Virat’s approach in all the three departments of the game. “No longer is it acceptable to have what we call a Sydney Harbour Bridge over the ball (while fielding). He is now hungry in all three departments, and it has played a big role in India going up in the ICC rankings.”

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Several cricketing geniuses met at the launch of Akash Chopra’s book – Numbers Do Lie. And one among them was India’s very own Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner praised former skipper and India U19 & A team coach Rahul Dravid.

”Rahul has to be the most game-aware person that I have ever known and this attribute often goes unnoticed, but then you have to sit back and admire this trait,” he said.

India will take on Australia in the second of the 4-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy which will begin at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium tomorrow.