Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) head coach Justin Langer opened up on the Greatest Player of All Time (GOAT) debate in cricket saying that he leans more towards India’s Virat Kohli ahead of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies’ Brain Lara.
Kohli, 35, is the active player with the most international centuries (79), has won the Player of the Tournament award in three ICC tournaments and to date, remains the only Asian skipper to win a Test series in Australia.
Apart from that, the 35-year-old has also won the 50-over World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy and possesses all the records and accolades that make him fit to be in the conversation of the greatest player ever.
Langer placed Kohli ahead of everyone as he believes the Indian is the best he has ever seen in his lifetime despite watching all-time greats like Allan Border and Vivan Richards.
“Virat, of course, and I’ve said this publicly a lot of times. He’s probably the best player I’ve ever seen in my life. This is coming from a cricket tragic, and I love Viv Richards and Allan Border. I played against Martin Crowe. These great players are obviously Brian Lara and Sachin, but Virat’s energy is extraordinary,” Langer said in a video with LSG.
Kohli is still one of the fittest cricketers in the world, even at the age of 35, and Langer puts that into perspective when rating him among all-time greats. The Aussie also talked about the energy he brings to the field.
“He’s so fit. His energy on the field, running between the wickets, and he’s just got this incredible spirit. So I love watching him play. I was glad we got him out in the game the other day. Yeah, that was very happy. I was happy. I didn’t want to see him back then. I was happy to see him go,” he added.
- Virat Kohli