'If My Son Plays Sport, I Will Use Kohli..,': Brian Lara Hails Kohli's Commitment
Brian Lara & Virat Kohli (Twitter)
In a recent address at the Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture in Kolkata, West Indies legend Brian Lara lavished praise on Indian stalwart Virat Kohli, citing him as a paragon of commitment and dedication.
Brian Lara cited Virat Kohli as the epitome of dedication
Lara, who is widely admired in the cricketing fraternity, mentioned that he would encourage his son to emulate Kohli's qualities if he were to pursue a career in sports.
"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," said Lara.
Kohli's stellar performances in the ICC World Cup 2023, where he emerged as the top run-scorer, garnered particular attention from Lara. Although India did not clinch the title, falling to Australia in the final, Kohli's batting brilliance made a significant impact.
Despite the team's overall result, Lara pointed out the importance of individual achievements in team sports, highlighting Kohli's consistent contributions throughout the tournament.
"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. 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," added the West Indian veteran.
Lara further shed light on Kohli's transformative influence on cricket, particularly in terms of preparation and discipline. He stated that Kohli's legacy extends beyond his impressive statistics and his exemplary work ethic makes him an ideal role model for aspiring athletes.
"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," concluded Lara.
During the recently concluded tournament, Kohli scored 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, achieving a record 50 ODI centuries, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in a single World Cup edition, and recording the highest number of fifty-plus scores in a single World Cup.
 "Jatin")
