Batting superstar Virat Kohli has revealed what his perfect ODI batter would look like, picking some of the biggest names in cricket for different aspects of the game.

Speaking to host broadcaster Star Sports, Kohli was asked to build his ideal 50-over batter by selecting players based on their individual strengths and favourite shots.

For the straight drive, Kohli went with batting great Sachin Tendulkar. He picked former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara for the cover drive, a shot that has also become one of Kohli’s trademarks.

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Sehwag, Dravid And Hayden Make The Cut

Kohli chose Rahul Dravid for the flick and former India opener Virender Sehwag for the cut shot.

For the sweep, the Indian batter picked Australian great Matthew Hayden, known for his powerful strokeplay and ability to dominate attacks.

When it came to six-hitting, there was little doubt about Kohli’s choice. He selected his former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate Chris Gayle.

Kohli also picked another former RCB teammate, AB de Villiers, for running between the wickets.

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Dhoni And Rohit Missing From Kohli’s XI

Interestingly, former India captains MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma did not feature in Kohli’s selections.

Kohli has shared some memorable moments with both players during his India career. Dhoni was Kohli’s first captain at the international level, while Rohit has been his teammate through several major tournaments and successful campaigns.

Kohli, however, made it clear that his admiration for some of his former teammates remains unchanged.

“For me, Sachin paaji is always going to be Sachin paaji. MS Dhoni is always going to be MS Dhoni in terms of being my first captain. These things can’t change inside me,” Kohli said.

Kohli Goes Past Tendulkar In ODI Records

The comments came after another record-breaking outing for Kohli against the West Indies.

During his innings, Kohli went past Tendulkar to become the fastest batter to reach 15,000 runs in ODI cricket. He also moved past Tendulkar’s tally to become the highest run-scorer in ODIs on home soil.

Despite the records continuing to pile up, Kohli said he does not look at his career as something that is already complete.

“I have never looked at myself as a guy who has established and achieved. You never really get to a position where you say that is it. I have done it,” he said.

Kohli will now be seen featuring in the second ODI against West Indies, which will take place on September 30 at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.


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