Shoaib Akhtar praises India's star Virat Kohli at ILT20

Shoaib Akhtar and Virat Kohli. Pics/AFP

Pakistan's legendary bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Saturday praised India's stalwart batsman Virat Kohli for completing 50 centuries in One-Day Internationals. He also said that he is the best batsman of the modern era and wished that he would get a century of centuries.

Akhtar is in UAE for the International League T20 season two as a brand ambassador and commentator.

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Speaking exclusively to ANI, Akhtar also said that had Virat played in his era, he could have faced difficulties but still would have scored the runs he has scored so far.

"Back then, Sachin was playing with one ball, which would reverse swing against some of the best bowlers in the world. There was only one circle. Today, Sachin would have made a lot of runs. He is the greatest ever...Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara etc. Wasim Akram and Shane Warne too," he said.

"Virat would have been competitive (in our era). He could have faced difficulties but he would have scored the runs he has scored now. We would have faced a similar beating. But playing Wasim Akram is not easy. Virat is Virat. He is the greatest batsman of this era. Both eras cannot be compared. Hats off to him. I want him to get a hundred centuries," he added.

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Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are two of the greatest ever batsmen to have ever play the sport. Kohli on the other hand has drawn comparisons with the Master Blaster because of his consistency and how Team India depends on his batting.

So far, Kohli has featured in 522 international matches in which he accumulated 26,733 runs at an average of 54.11. The star Indian batsman also has 80 centuries and 139 half-centuries registered to his name. His best score is 254' runs and he is also the first ever batsman to score 50 ODI centuries.

India great Sachin Tendulkar has scored 34,357 runs in 664 international matches at an average of 48.52. He has 100 centuries and 164 half-centuries with a best score of 270' runs. India's "Little Master" Sachin Tendulkar is also the first and only batsman to score 100 international centuries across all three formats of the game.

(With ANI Inputs)