• Source:JND
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Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu is back is all set to make his return to the commentary circuit and the IPL 2024 will be his first assignment as fans await to hear his heavily-missed anecdotes.

Ahead of the start of the 17th edition of IPL, Sidhu has come up with a sensational statement as he named the best batter according to him while speaking of the legendary Indian cricketing names like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

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During the pre-IPL chat, Sidhu responded to the possibility of Virat Kohli batting at the No. 3 spot for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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However, the 60-year-old Sidhu stands against the idea but went on to admit that Kohli is the greatest batter in the world, rating him ahead of some big names.

"I don't think so. It's what the team demands. You could be the greatest player in the world, which he is. But if your team is not winning, especially hasn't held the trophy once, then it's a blot that you would want to erase. It's not detrimental to him in any way, because he has given his best and you could see it," Sidhu said.

"I have rated him as the best Indian batter ever. There are eras where I would put up my transistor and listen to Sunil Gavaskar bat against the West Indies, those are the 70s. The great West Indies fast bowlers, bunking school and just going out one period and listening to how he was batting and without a helmet, that was his era. He dominated for almost 15-20 years. Then came Tendulkar, another era. Then came Dhoni, and then came Virat. If you look at four, I would rate him as the best because he has adapted to all three formats," Sidhu further added.

Sidhu went on to say that even though MS Dhoni was the first cricketer to bring the revolution of fitness to the Indian side, Kohli became fitter than him.

"In the same way, his technical ability and the fittest of all of them. If you look at all four, he would be the fittest. Tendulkar had problems, in the latter stages of his career. Dhoni, he is fit. Virat is super fit. That holds him in good stead. It elevates him to a level, a few notches higher, that others have not been able to achieve. The longevity factor, gives him a plus. The adaptability factor is Sone Pe Suhaaga," he added.

Talking about Kohli, he will be seen in action in IPL 2024 after a short break, missing out on the five-match Test series against England to be with his wife during the birth of their second child as they named the baby boy Akaay.

The first match of the IPL 2024 will be played between the defending champions Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore which means Kohli will have a chance to set the tone for another remarkable season.