If my son has to play any sport, I will be using Kohli’s commitment: Brian Lara

During the Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture in Kolkata, Brian Lara lauded Virat Kohli for his unwavering dedication and commitment to cricket. Lara, a cricketing legend, hailed Kohli as an exemplary figure, expressing admiration for his stellar performances in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Lara even went on to say that if his offspring were to pursue a sport, he’d urge them to emulate Kohli’s remarkable qualities as an inspiration.

The 35-year-old’s batting brilliance resonated profoundly with Lara. The West Indies icon stressed the significance of Kohli’s excellence, acknowledging its significance within team dynamics. The 54-year-old underscored the essence of personal achievements in team sport, asserting his desire to instil the right-handed batter’s unwavering commitment and dedication in his son, nurturing the traits needed to excel as a top-tier sportsman.

“I have a son and I can tell you that if my son has to play any sport, I will be using Kohli’s commitment and dedication to not just add to his strength, but whatever it takes to become a Number one sportsman. First of all, for Virat Kohli, I know a lot of people will say or have already said that Kohli’s performance does not matter as India did not win the World Cup,” Lara said as quoted by Times of India.

“Team sport is about winning and you, as an individual player, have to have that as your No.1 target. But a subsidiary of team success is individual success, and this is what Kohli has given India match after match throughout the World Cup,” he added.

Lara lauds Virat Kohli for disciplined approach

Virat’s stellar performance in the World Cup 2023 was monumental, as he amassed a staggering 765 runs in 11 matches at an impressive average of 95.62. His feat, including being the first to reach 50 ODI centuries, surpassing Tendulkar’s record for most runs in a single World Cup edition, and achieving the highest number of fifty-plus scores, showcased his dominance. Lara commended Delhi batter’s transformative impact on cricket’s preparation and discipline approach.

“What impresses me most about Kohli is his true legacy, for he has changed the face of cricket and how you prepare for the game. The discipline that he has stands out, always,” Lara concluded.