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Nasser Hussain (Source: Twitter)
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes batting stalwart Virat Kohli will be having another successful year in 2024. The India great had a stellar 2023 season, finishing as the second-leading run-scorer across formats with 2,048 runs, including eight centuries. He has been the backbone of the Indian cricket team for years and looks like he will be the same for years to come.
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Kohli broke the record for most runs in a single edition of the ODI World Cup and won Player of the Tournament despite India losing the final. He amassed 765 runs in 11 matches at a staggering average of 95.62 with three centuries and six fifties. Hussain, who praised the 35-year-old for his exploits with the bat in the premier 50-over tournament, has named Kohli as his first choice for a successful 2024 season.
"My first one is a megastar and there is no doubt about it. Virat Kohli. Obviously, he had a fantastic 2023 and World Cup. Amid all the records he broke and the attention, we did not focus on how well he was batting," said Hussain.
"Technically, I have never seen Virat bat as well like that. The sound of the bat, that innings against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, I can name about five innings where he was getting in a good position. That is a good sign for Virat, India and Virat fans. It means that he is in a good mental space and his game is in good order," he added.
I think it is a massive year for him: Hussain on his next pick, Babar Azam
Babar Azam had a fine first half in 2023, but then it turned out to be one of the worst phases of his career. The 29-year-old finished the year with 1,399 runs across formats at an average of just under 40, with three centuries. He had a disappointing Asia Cup, followed by a terrible World Cup, and lost the captaincy in all formats after that. HHowever, the former England batter kept his faith in Babar to make the 2024 season a success.
"Another one, they are often compared. Babar Azam. I think it is a massive year for him and Pakistan. He has given up captaincy, that may be the weight off his shoulders," said Hussain.
"The biggest thing he can do for Pakistan cricket is get shed load of runs. They need him to get runs. There will be a T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. They got to the finals last time. They will need their ex-skipper to put in a real performance," he added.