Tendulkar: Kohli thrives under pressure without compromising on technique

Kohli’s fine technique has drawn a lot of appreciation from the experts in the game and Tendulkar spoke to Gulf News appreciating the genius of Kohli. "Virat presents the straight bat and scores with good cricketing shots. He is a special talent and he works hard on his game. His discipline and commitment has to be emulated. He visualises different formats without ever compromising on his technique. In addition, he is very strong mentally and thrives in pressure situations.”

Sachin Tendulkar, who retired from the IPL after winning the title in 2013, said the level of competition has only increased in BCCI’s premier domestic competition.

"The level of competition in the IPL has been steadily growing. We have had last couple of seasons, where the last match of the pool has decided the final standings and the teams for the knockout phase. It is great for the tournament as the interest level is maintained throughout.”

But at the same time, the importance of Test cricket remains paramount for the 43-year-old. "I believe that Test cricket has its own unique position in cricket. I also think that the format should enable bowler-friendly wickets. The other formats have largely become overtly advantageous to batsmen, so Test cricket should create this balance," said Tendulkar.

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Elsewhere England and Sri Lanka are locking horns on English shores and Alastair Cook is about to be the youngest man to reach the 10000-run mark and Tendulkar knows what it takes to achieve such a feat. "It is important to start afresh and keep preparing for the new game. You may have scored a century in the last game but that is the past. You also need to work on your weaker areas since bowlers, coaches and support staff are constantly analysing your batting. There is no substitute for hard work and discipline,” concluded the champion batsman.

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