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In a recent episode of the Tailenders Podcast, veteran England cricketer James Anderson lauded Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli, calling him the “greatest chaser of all time” in cricket history. Anderson’s comments come in recognition of Kohli’s extraordinary record while pursuing target scores in his cricket career.
James Anderson praises Virat Kohli as the best chaser
Kohli, who is widely celebrated for his exceptional performance under pressure, has amassed 7,852 runs in successful chases, making him the second-highest run-scorer in such scenarios, trailing only behind Sachin Tendulkar, who has 8,720 runs in similar situations. Anderson emphasized Kohli’s remarkable consistency and prowess in these high-stakes moments.
“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,” said Anderson.
When questioned about whether Kohli is the greatest white-ball finisher, Anderson clarified that he was specifically referring to Kohli’s exceptional record in chasing targets, rather than his overall white-ball finishing abilities. He acknowledged Australia’s Michael Bevan as a legendary finisher.
“I cannot say that. I was thinking more in terms of just chasing, Bevan was just phenomenal coming in at number six and doing that job,” Anderson noted.
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Anderson highlights Kohli’s chasing prowess and finishing skills
Anderson noted that while Kohli often scores big hundreds while batting at number three to chase down targets, Bevan was known for his ability to score crucial 50s and 60s as a lower-order batter. Despite this, Anderson admitted he can’t think of a better finisher or white-ball player than Kohli.
“Kohli batting at number 3 gets those hundreds while Bevan was renowned for getting his 50s, 60s and being at the end, while 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 [Kohli],” the former bowler added.
Anderson’s insights highlight not only Kohli’s unparalleled chasing record but also his unique ability to adapt and excel in critical match situations, reinforcing his status as one of the greatest white-ball players in cricket history.
