‘Virat Is The Greatest Finisher’: James Anderson Hails Kohli As One Of The Best Chase Masters In Cricket History

Former England pace legend James Anderson termed star India batter Virat Kohli as “one of the best” players while chasing runs and finishing games, especially noting his prowess in white-ball cricket.

Anderson was speaking on the Tailenders Podcast recently. Speaking on the podcast, Virat said, “I do not know if there is been a better batter in the history of the game batting second and chasing down scores than Virat Kohli. His record at chasing is absolutely phenomenal. The number of hundreds he has scored in the second innings, chasing down scores is ridiculous.”

Anderson noted that Virat’s chasing abilities are great due to the amount of self-belief he has.

“It is no surprise that when he gets in that situation, with his mentality, it is just like it is meant to be. His self-belief is so high,” added Anderson. On being asked if Virat is the greatest white-ball batter ever, Anderson said that while Michael Bevan of Australia would pull off fine finishes for Australia in the 1990s and early 2000s, the centuries scored by Virat during successful chases make him the “greatest finisher” besides one of the best white-ball batters ever.

“I cannot say that. I was thinking more in terms of just chasing. [As for the best white-ball batter ever,] Michael Bevan from Australia comes to my mind, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s – he was just phenomenal coming in at number six and doing that job,” he said.

“Kohli batting at number 3 gets those hundreds while Bevan was renowned for getting his 50s, 60s and being at the end, while Kohli gets the big score, to get his teams over the line. I honestly can’t think of a better finisher and greater white-ball players than him [Kohli],” he added.

The duo has enjoyed a dominant and a much-talked about rivalry against each other. They have faced each other in 36 innings in Test cricket, with Virat scoring 305 runs at an average of 43.57 and getting out to him seven times, including four times during the 2014 tour, where Virat could score just 134 in 10 innings at an average of 13.40, with best score of 39.

However, Virat upped his game in English conditions big time during the 2018 tour, topping the run-charts with 593 runs in five matches at an average of 59.30, with two centuries and three fifties and best score of 149.

Virat is considered as one of the greatest white-ball batters of all time. He made his ODI debut in 2008 against Sri Lanka. Following this he has scored 13906 runs after playing 295 matches and 283 innings at a strike rate of 93.54, with 50 centuries and 72 fifties. He is the third-highest ODI run-getter ever.

He is also the second-highest run-getter in T20Is, scoring 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69, with a strike rate of over 137, with a century and 38 fifties.

His records while chasing are phenomenal, scoring 7,852 runs in 162 ODI matches at an average of 64.36, with 27 centuries and 40 fifties. In 53 T20Is and 48 innings, while chasing, he has scored 2,013 runs at an average of 67.10, with a strike rate of 136.47 and 20 fifties. His best score was 94*.