Former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Tuesday said fitness freak Virat Kohli has turned his teammates into “real athletes” and termed him the man responsible for an incredible turnaround in Indian cricket. While commentating in IPL 2024, Pietersen earlier said that Kohli should be picked in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies because of the “goodness of the game, regardless of his performance”. In a subtle message after leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to victory over Punjab Kings on Monday, Kohli said he still has the game to thrive in the T20 format and doesn’t just see himself as a vehicle to take the game global to grow.
Following Kohli’s comments, which caused an uproar, Pietersen told Star Sports: “One of the things that everyone will remember and that will create the best memories as a player is that he wraps up innings and is one of the best finishers of all time.
“One of the things he has done for Indian cricket is he has turned Indian cricketers into athletes, real athletes, and while he has done that, he has not just talked. He has taken the step, and you can Speaking about his dedication to his team, Pietersen said: “When he runs between the wickets, his complete dedication, energy and desire is to be the best and he is the best.
“That starts before the field, it starts with diet, the energy he puts into the gym, with the sacrifices he has made to walk, because when you talk, you have to walk.
“That’s what all the other players who have played under you are following you, mind you. The turnaround in Indian cricket is because of what he has done.” South African legend and Kohli’s former RCB teammate AB de Villiers is also in awe of the Indian batting prowess.
Speaking on JioCinema after Kohli’s match-winning 49-ball 76 on Monday night, De Villiers said: “I could see it in his eyes, this man meant it tonight and no one was going to stand in his way. Unfortunately he didn’t make it to the back, that’s what he would have wanted.
“Knowing him, he will be analyzing in his room tonight: ‘Why didn’t I finish that match?’ He is very hard on himself at times, creeping his way up the list of most 50 scores along with the other guys in IPL history.
“He’s a great player, he played fantastically well tonight. He kept it together, kept them in the game. Well played, Virat.”
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