"Only comparison is Tendulkar" - Ravi Shastri rates Virat Kohli's sixes against Haris Rauf the greatest shots in Indian Cricket history

Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)

Virat Kohli left the entire cricketing fraternity awestruck with his stupendous knock against Pakistan in the 20-20 World Cup on Sunday. The star Indian batter played a knock-for-the-ages scoring 82 off 53 balls to guide his team to an unforgettable win over the arch-rivals. Kohli’s knock earned him praise from all around the world with even former Pakistan cricketers congratulating him on a marvellous innings. Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has also rated Kohli’s heroics among the two greatest knocks in the history of Indian Cricket.

Shastri spoke at length in the admiration of former team India captain in an interview with Indian express. He had special praise for Kohli’s two sixes against Haris Rauf in the 19^th over of the second innings.

“In all my years of playing and watching India vs Pakistan, those two sixes off Haris Rauf are two of the greatest shots played by an Indian batsman. The only comparison is Sachin Tendulkar’s six off Shoaib Akhtar in Centurion in 2003 World Cup. These are two of the greatest cricketers of our time,” Shastri told Indian Express.

“Tendulkar’s knock had some of the magnificent shots played in white-ball cricket against Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar. And then this Kohli knock. These two are the biggest knocks I have seen where quality fast bowling has been taken apart,” he added.

With India requiring 28 off 8, Kohli smashed a rising slower bouncer by Rauf over his head for a massive six down the ground. Everyone at the stadium was left shell-shocked by Kohli’s shot who made the herculean task look simple. He further smashed the next ball over fine leg for another maximum shifting the momentum of the game towards India.

Shastri further said that this knock by Kohli will help him in his rediscovery.

“For him, this knock would have helped in rediscovery of himself, his love for the game, what he can do, and the road ahead. Clarity would be crystal clear; it’s usually a by-product of confidence. The rediscovery of things he would have fathomed during the break,” the former Indian head coach further said.