'He's proved again that he is a champion': Venkatesh Prasad praises Virat Kohli for 'phenomenal' year

Former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has termed Virat Kohli as a “champion” and the “best batsman” of this generation, adding that 2023 was by far his best ever year for Kohli in international cricket. Kohli enjoyed a productive ODI World Cup, scoring 765 runs to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a single edition of the tournament in the process. Kohli also broke Sachin’s record of 49 ODI centuries, with his 50^th ton coming in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

“He has proved again that he is a champion and the best batsman of this generation, been a phenomenal year for him. Would rate this as his best year, especially since it had come after a couple of difficult years for him. That hunger and zeal was refreshing and sign of a true champion that Virat is,” Venkatesh Prasad posted on ‘X’ during a Q & A session on the micro-blogging platform on Sunday.

He has proved again that he is a champion and the best batsman of this generation, been a phenomenal year for him. Would rate this as his best year, especially since it had come after a couple of difficult years for him. That hunger and zeal was refreshing and sign of a true… https://t.co/aTi97mm28b

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) December 31, 2023

With 2048 runs, Kohli is only behind Shubman Gill (2154 runs) when it comes to most runs in international cricket in 2023. Kohli, who was on a break following India’s loss to Australia in the World Cup final in November, recently returned to action in the first Test against South Africa in Centurion. He scored 38 in the first innings followed by 76 in the second. India, however, went onto lose the first Test by an innings and 32 runs.

The second and final Test will take place from 3 January in Cape Town.