Published: Jul 26, 2016, 05:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 26, 2016, 06:01 PM (IST)
At the moment, Indian run-machine Virat Kohli and South African sensation AB de Villiers look unstoppable. The entire cricketing world and fans go gaga every time they come out to bat and take the best of the bowlers to the cleaners. While the two geniuses often divide the fraternity on the topic ‘who is better between the two and best in the world’, there is one man on this planet who thinks neither of them is the best batsman in the world. ALSO SEE: Mohammad Yousuf and Rameez Raja exchange heated words over the inclusion of Mohammad Amir in the Pakistani side.
Former Pakistan captain and motor-mouth critic of their national team, Mohammad Yousuf feels that there is one player who is better than both ‘King Kohli’ and ‘360 degree player’ de Villiers. He has opined that English batting sensation Joe Root is the current best batsman in the world across formats. His comment comes in the wake of Root’s double hundred (254) against Pakistan in the second Test at Old Trafford, which Pakistan lost badly.
“He [Root] is the best batsman in all three formats of the game. His balance, his shot selection and his timing all work well together and his double hundred against Pakistan at Old Trafford was a gem of an innings,” Yousuf said on Monday. He further added, “Root has been around for just a few years but already his batting averages in all three formats speaks for his class.” ALSO READ: Mohammad Yousuf: 14 interesting facts about the great Pakistani batsman.
Having said that, Yousuf did not deny the class of Kohli and de Villiers, but stressed his personal opinion that Root was numero uno. Yousuf, who played 90 Tests and 288 ODIs for Pakistan, also said that the common factor between Root, Kohli and de Villiers was that they were all equally comfortable playing in any format of the game. “I have always said that if a batsman can be successful at Test level he can be successful in any format. I think the way Root or the others get runs consistently it proves my point,” he added.
With the world already divided for choice between the likes of Kohli, de Villiers, Root, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Australian captain Steve Smith, Yousuf statements have made the debate interesting. Watch out for more former cricketers come out and put forth their opinion on it.
