Virat Kohli performs better than Sachin in difficult situations, says Imran Khan

"Cricket has had eras. In the eighties, it was Viv Richards, and then you had Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar who stood out. Virat Kohli is one of the most complete players I've seen. He's so versatile; he plays on both feet, and on all sides of the field,” Imran Khan told the Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview at his Islamabad residence.

The 1992 World Cup winner has also voiced his opinion on the Kohli-Sachin debate, and he feels that the 27-year-old possesses a better temperament than what Sachin had, along with his impeccable technique.

“Apart from his talent and technique, he has a very good temperament. His temperament is better than Sachin's. Kohli performs at the most difficult of opportunities, which Sachin sometimes wasn't able to,” he told HT.

Imran Khan, who visited India during their match against Pakistan in the World T20, said, “It was very painful watching Pakistan lose, but Kohli played a very good game. I look at batsmen from a bowler's point of view and I think of how to get them out. Just look at how Kohli plays in difficult situations. He's better than anyone. I'd say he's the best internationally, today. You can back him to play any match”.

Read our analysis on the Virat Kohli-Sachin Tendulkar debate; who is the greater of the two?

Khan also recounted his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He urged the PM to restore cricketing ties with Pakistan, but reportedly all he got in return was a smile.

“I did say he should start the tours, but it was the first time I was meeting him (Modi). If it was our second meeting, I would have said it's a very immature foreign policy.

“It's very immature to punish Pakistan for something they did not agree with. This idea of collective punishment... no human rights (principle) calls for collective punishment. Everyone here condemned the Mumbai and Pathankot attacks. Mind you, we suffer far more terrorist attacks than you do every other day. So, to blame a country that's actually suffering from the worst form of terrorism, and then to give it this collective punishment, is just very immature,” he added.

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