For other cricketers, the pressure situation would make them nervous, especially with wickets falling at the other end, but not Kohli. And that sense of self-belief and self-confidence makes him unique. “His self-confidence doesn’t dip, it takes a lot for that to take a beating. That makes him special. The other thing is his fitness. I think he’s the fittest, greatest batsman,” said England batsman Jason Roy in a debate during the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture.
However he was quick to deny that England were afraid of him. “Not scared of him, no. He’s obviously a great player, and rightly so, you’ve given him such kind words. He’s an extremely good athlete, an imposing batsman, an imposing figure on the field. We’ve got to find ways of dismantling him somehow, so we can’t give him too much praise right here,” he added.
The sentiments were echoed by former India batsman and now commentator Sanjay Manjrekar.
“Where I find him (Kohli) different from other batting greats is his self-belief, his self-confidence,” said Manjrekar. “I remember he averaged 13 (13.4) the last time he was year in England. The very next Test match was in Adelaide, and he walked out like he was king of Adelaide,” he added.
