There is a bit of Virender Sehwag in Kohli: Dean Jones

Former Australian batsman Dean Jones feels that Virat Kohli’s batting approach outside off stump has similarities with that of Virender Sehwag. There is a bit of Viru [Virender Sehwag] in Kohli: Dean Jones. Kohli, who is currently playing in his 50th, struck 167 in the first innings to set the platform for India to post a huge total.

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu Dean Jones said, “There is a bit of Viru [Virender Sehwag] in him. Perhaps he has a slight weakness outside the off-stump in certain conditions but he is getting over that.”

England’s batting mainstay and Kohli’s batting rival Joe Root also reached the 50th Test milestone. If we have a closer look, the current Test scene clearly has the Virat Kohli, Joe Root, AB de Villiers, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith compete with each other.

All these batsmen are marked as future legends and they have already given plenty of reasons for people think in such way. Jones says that these batsmen who are dominating the world of cricket at present have some similarities with the all-time greats like Don Bradman and Brian Lara.

“If you look at the Fab Five of the present times, Kohli, Root, AB de Villiers, Kane Willamson and Steve Smith, they all go back and across much like what Don Bradman or Brian Lara did. So in some ways, we are returning to the old school of batting.”

The Victorian-born former cricketer also heaped praise on Cheteshwar Pujara and said that the right-hander is disciplined at the crease and builds his innings.  Dean Jones played 52 Tests for Australia and scored 11 centuries at an average of 46.55, which includes a mesmerizing 210-run innings against India at the Chepauk in humid and sultry conditions.

Ravichandran Ashwin is very effective in these conditions admits the Australian but also feels he has to prove his worth on true pitches rather than only on rank turners.

“In these conditions, Ashwin is very, very hard to play. His record here speaks for itself. But he has gone for plenty of runs with far lesser wickets on good, true pitches. That’s an aspect of his cricket he needs to work on. He has to plan his dismissals on good tracks, set batsmen up,” said Jones.

India is currently playing the second test against England in Vishakhapatnam after a drawn match in Rajkot.