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'Virat Is To Cricket What LeBron James Is To Basketball..,' Bishop on Kohli's Influence

image-lofxfe40Virat Kohli is the face of cricket - Ian Bishop [PC: X]

Virat Kohli is undoubtedly one of the greatest cricketers to play the game. Every time he steps on the field, the crowd goes berserk. Even in the ongoing World Cup 2023, if you see the loudest cheers are for King Kohli who has captured the love of cricket fans like no other.

The 34-year-old is currently in the middle of his 15th year in international cricket and he has scored more than 26000 runs and 78 centuries for India which is second to only the great Sachin Tendulkar.

However, the kind of impact Kohli has made in his entire career goes beyond the scorebook. He literally rules the cricketing world and represents the sport at the global stage like no other. Yes, his on-field numbers speak for himself, but it’s his vast off-field fandom which goes beyond the cricketing world.

His astonishing popularity is one of the reasons behind cricket getting back to Olympics for the first time in more than hundred years. There are very few individuals who have made such a global influence to the sport they play.

Renowned Commentator and former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop shed light on Kohli’s influence to the sport cricket which is felt not just in India but across the globe. 

Speaking in Star Sports show ‘We for Virat’ ahead of the veteran’s 35th birthday later this week, Bishop compared Virat Kohli to LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the global stage.

“I would have no arguments in saying that Virat is to cricket what LeBron James is to Basketball and beyond the sport. What Ronaldo and Messi are to football, Virat Kohli is to cricket,"  Ian Bishop said on Star Sports.

Bishop further added that no one has globalized the sport cricket like Virat did. He is the leading face of the cricketing world.

“Obviously soccer and basketball perhaps have a wider following than cricket but if you calculate the numbers that form in India and the subcontinent, the exposure Virat has gotten in cricket, he is that guy,” Bishop added.

Kohli and team India have had a flying first half of the ongoing World Cup 2023. The Rohit Sharma-led unit have won each of their six matches so far and will be hoping to make it seven in a row against Sri Lanka in their next fixture at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday, November 2nd.