‘Don’t know if there’s a better batter while chasing in history’ – James Anderson hails Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli and James Anderson. (Photo source: X(Twitter)

In ODIs, while chasing, Virat Kohli has scored 7852 runs in 155 innings at an average of 64.36. He has hit 27 tons and 40 half-centuries and has earned the title of ‘chase master’. Former England international James Anderson opened up about his incredible chasing skills and stated that the 35-year-old is arguably the best chaser in the history of the game.

He also pointed out Kohli’s incredible self-belief and his mentality, which become major aspects when there’s pressure. Meanwhile, not only in ODIs, Kohli has been extraordinary while chasing in the shortest format as well. His 82* against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 at Melbourne Cricket Ground is often regarded as one of the greatest T20I innings.

Anderson noted that Virat gets into his zone while chasing and that his ability to chase down any total is ridiculous.

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“I do not know if there has 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. 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,” Anderson said in The Tailenders podcast.

Anderson also hailed former Australia cricketer Michael Bevan as one of the greatest white-ball finishers. The 54-year-old played 232 ODI matches and has scored 6912 runs at an average of 53.58. The former pacer stated that Bevan was phenomenal as he consistently got the job done while batting at number six.

“I cannot say that. I was thinking more in terms of just chasing. (As for Kohli being 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.

“Kohli batting at number 3 gets those hundreds while Bevan was renowned for getting his 50s, 60s, and being at the end, while Virat 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 (Bevan),” he added.