Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli is definitely the most complete batsman in modern day game. The 31-year-old has made it a habit of being a top draw across formats. He excels in the game like nobody else and has set a bar that is difficult for others to cope up with. Former West Indian legend Brian Lara likened the Kohli and Ronaldo for his sheer commitment towards the game.
Lara is an ardent fan of the Indian captain and he recently claimed that the latter is the cricketing equivalent of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
One of the greatest batsmen ever to have played the game, Lara told PTI he is in awe of how the Indian star player has honed his skills to take batting to an “unbelievable level”.
“I think it has got a lot to do with Virat’s outstanding commitment besides his preparation. I don’t think he is any more talented than a KL Rahul or a Rohit Sharma but his commitment to prepare himself properly stands out. He is, for me, the cricketing equivalent of Cristiano Ronaldo,” Lara said.
“His fitness level and his mental strength is unbelievable,” the former Windies legend added.
Going by his comments, we at Kyro Sports decode how Kohli is cricket’s Ronaldo.
#1 – Kohli and Ronaldo dominates their field of sports
Numbers speaks volumes and both these imminent personalities have dominated their respective field of sports with a sense of dignity. In this generation, there have been few that managed to match the quality. In football, there is a unique tale of Lionel Messi sharing the limelight with Ronaldo in terms of being the greatest.
But there is a catch here. Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d’Ors, has also tasted success at international level with his national team Portugal. With Portugal, Ronaldo lifted the UEFA Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League title as well. This is something Messi hasn’t achieved with Argentina.
However, looking at Ronaldo’s career, he amassed 118 goals in 292 appearances for Manchester United. He moved to Real Madrid in 2009 and conquered Europe after netting 450 goals in 438 matches. The Portuguese sensation made another high-profile move to Juventus in 2018. He has amassed 39 goals in 62 games already for the Italian champions.
In international circuit, Ronaldo has 99 goals in 164 appearances.
When it comes to trophies with clubs, Ronaldo has won a staggering 27 titles that includes five Champions League honours. He is also the highest goal-scorer in the Champions League. On individual front, Ronaldo has won The Best award twice, FIFA World Player of the Year (2008), European Golden Shoe (4), FIFA Puskas award and many more in England, Spain and Italy.
When you look at Kohli, he has played 84 Tests and has scored 7,202 runs at an average of 54.97. He has scored 27 hundreds and 22 fifties. The talented batsman also played 240 ODIs and has 11,524 runs at 60.02. He has 43 hundreds and 54 half-centuries. In 75 T20Is, he has 2,633 runs at 52.66. He has 24 fifties to his name.
Kohli, like Ronaldo boasts of several individual records across formats and has tipped the bar high.
#2 – Fitness is a necessity for both Kohli and Ronaldo
Now besides the domination, these two stalwarts have always focused largely on fitness. They often share images of them on social media sites which relates to the fitness level. Gymming, practicing and working that extra tad bit everyday is a habit they enjoy. That’s what has made them successful in the sports they play.
Last year, the Indian skipper told India Today, “If you are fit, you will be able to work more and achieve more. You will be able to be more productive because if you lack energy you will not be as productive as you should be. Now, I don’t do fitness to look good but to stay fit and obviously, I have professional requirements as well. But even after that (cricket), I don’t think it will change and will become a life style,” Kohli insisted.
The Indian star is one of the fittest sportspersons in the world and has also turned vegan to prolong himself in the game. His fielding, athleticism and running between the wickets shows how much he has worked on himself and his fitness levels.
Similarly, Ronaldo is an example of having the best fitness attributes in football. He has enjoyed a career where he has been remarkably injury-free for most parts. He doesn’t leave a stone unturned when it comes to working out and being on top in terms of body and confidence. Ronaldo has always been known to have a combining rapid pace and agility with elite aerial ability and sheer power.
He is someone who avoids sugary foods and focuses a lot on his diet. He has also highlighted the importance of drinking water.
#3 – Mental strength that sets Kohli and Ronaldo apart
The ability to shine everywhere only comes from a strong mental approach. Often we see legends speak about mental strength and its importance. And when it comes to this aspect, both these superstars enjoy a healthy mental approach. Their vision, workload and ability to win matches on their own makes them fall in a different category of players.
Over the years, we have seen Ronaldo always trying to be the best and training hard to achieve what he has. Coming from a humble background, the Portuguese has not just depended on his skills. His major focus has been to excel on the field and be mentally up for the biggest matches. He has won four UCL titles with Madrid and dictated many knockout matches on his own.
Just when you needed a moment of spark, Ronaldo stood tall to deliver in the unlikeliest scenario.
Like Ronaldo, senior cricketer Kohli is also all about mental excellence. His desire to win matches and lead the side from the front makes him a winner. He loves to win and is always on the heart of things in terms of dictating the game. Like Ronaldo, the Indian batsman is also very passionate, aggressive and works hard to improve himself on a daily basis.
Both Kohli and Ronaldo are the two legends of sports and have a mentality stronger than the others. The vision to excel and work for the rewards separates the two.
