NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has paid glowing tribute to Virat Kohli, calling the Indian superstar the “greatest one-day player of all time” and a “once-in-a-generation” cricketer who has redefined the art of batting in limited-overs cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Waugh was effusive in his praise for the Indian maestro, who turned 37 this week. “Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are two all-time great players. Virat Kohli is probably the greatest one-day player of all time. You want to see them play everywhere… but they can’t play every match,” Waugh said.
Since making his debut in 2008, Kohli has amassed 14,255 runs in 305 ODIs, including a record 51 centuries. His unrivalled consistency and chase mastery have earned him the moniker of “Chase Master,” as he continues to dominate the ODI format with his trademark intensity and precision.
Poll
Is Virat Kohli the greatest one-day player of all time?
Recalling his recent brilliance, Waugh referenced Kohli’s composed 74 off 81 balls during India’s commanding nine-wicket win over Australia in Sydney last month, where former skipper Rohit Sharma struck an unbeaten 121. “It’s always great to see all-time great players in action. Someone like Virat Kohli, that’s a once-in-a-generation sort of player. If you get a chance, you want to see him play,” Waugh said.Waugh also lauded India’s transition under a fresh T20 setup following the retirements of Kohli and Rohit from the shortest format after the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. “They’ve got a modern T20 side now with a lot of exciting stars… the game has to evolve,” he added.
