If you look at T20Is and ODIs, Virat Kohli is the best chaser: Monty Panesar

While we are blessed to be watching four generational cricketers in Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root ply their trade in the same era, the debate rages on as to which among them pips their competition to be the best among them. Former England captain Michael Vaughan had turned a few heads by stating a while ago that Williamson was better than Kohli, Monty Panesar who played under Vaughan’s stewardship has a slightly different opinion.

"I think both are extremely good. Both can steady the team in any situation,” said Panesar, speaking to Sports Yaari. “If you look at T20Is and ODIs, Virat Kohli is the best chaser. But Kane Williamson plays equally well in all three formats. I think his level is above Rohit Sharma but a little below Virat Kohli. If Kane was an Indian, he would probably be an ideal replacement for Ajinkya Rahane in the Test batting line-up.”

While radical opinions are certain to grab headlines, Panesar backed India to beat England 5-0 in their own backyard."The first factor is that the matches will start in August, which has the warmest weather in the year. The second factor is that there are five Test matches taking place in a short span of time and India play well when they have the momentum,” he explained his prediction. ” Thirdly, India’s seam options are brilliant. It wasn’t the case earlier. And the most important is that ever since Alastair Cook retired, England’s top-order batting hasn't been good,” he concluded.

[Hindustan Times inputs]