Virat Kohli is a fighter, defends his teammates more than anyone else: Viv Richards

Such is the pedestal that Virat Kohli has reached that legendary batsman Viv Richards not only shut down critics who have questioned his attitude, but also said that the India skipper reminds him of his own game.

“I love guys like that. People talk about arrogance but it is about believing in yourself. It is like having the keys to your home, Virat has something similar now (know all the entry and exits). I had it in my time, he has it now.

“I have always loved Indian batsmanship. The confidence he is blessed with you can’t get that overnight. Either it’s instilled in you or you are born with it. He is a fighter and defends his teammates more than anyone else. It’s not arrogance, he fancies himself against anybody in the world and that I think is the right way to play. Every great player looks forward to being on the biggest stage and every such player wants to come out winning a cup. That’s what Kohli has with him,” Richards said during a TV show.

India start their campaign in the 2019 World Cup on Wednesday against South Africa at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. While India will be playing their first game, South Africa come into the game having lost both their games so far in the showpiece event, against England and Bangladesh.

But South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has promised that the team will come back strongly against India in their third game of the World Cup.