Virat Kohli Misses Out on Cover Drive List as Ashwin and Kaif Spark Debate

Virat Kohli finds himself at the center of fresh cricketing debate after being omitted from a list of the game's greatest cover-drivers. The former India captain, often lauded for his iconic shot, was surprisingly left out by England legend David Gower, sparking discussion as other voices weigh in on his legacy and current influence.

Kohli Snubbed in Gower's Cover Drive Rankings

David Gower, the former England left-hander, ranked his top five players of the cover drive during the ongoing Test series against Pakistan. His list, shared via the Wisden X handle, included himself, fellow Englishmen Ian Bell and Joe Root, Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, and West Indian maestro Brian Lara. The exclusion of Kohli, who has scored 28,359 international runs with 85 centuries, was notable. Gower's own credentials are strong, with over 8,000 Test runs, but many consider Kohli's cover drive a defining shot of the modern era.

Ashwin's Bracket Sees Bumrah Edge Out Kohli

In a separate but related discussion, India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin created an 'ultimate bracket' to crown the greatest Indian cricketer for ESPNcricinfo. While Sachin Tendulkar ultimately won, Ashwin's earlier choices raised eyebrows. In a direct matchup, Ashwin selected fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah over Virat Kohli. He also picked Virender Sehwag over MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly over himself. Ashwin's bracket, which treated the exercise with competitive seriousness, highlighted the difficult choices involved in comparing all-time greats across different roles.

Kaif Points to Kohli's Missed Leadership in Colombo

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif suggested the current Test side could have used Kohli's intense captaincy during their recent drawn match in Colombo. Speaking after the game, which complicated India's World Test Championship hopes, Kaif felt the team lacked urgency. "I felt that if someone like Virat Kohli had been playing this match, he would have been constantly shouting and keeping his team switched on," Kaif said. He argued Kohli's aggressive, vocal style might have lifted the bowlers and changed the outcome, leaving India needing to win at least six of their seven remaining WTC matches.

Kohli's New Tattoo Goes Viral Off the Field

Away from the pitch, Virat Kohli made personal news as images of a new tattoo added to his extensive collection went viral online. The body art, while not detailed in the reports, generated significant fan and media attention, reflecting his status as a constant trendsetter. These off-field moments often blend with his athletic persona, keeping him in the public eye even during breaks from international cricket.

• Cover Drive Snub: David Gower did not include Virat Kohli in his top five all-time cover-drivers, naming three Englishmen, Sangakkara, and Lara.
• Bracket Battle: Ravichandran Ashwin chose Jasprit Bumrah over Kohli in his head-to-head bracket, though Sachin Tendulkar was his overall pick.
• Leadership Void: Mohammad Kaif believes Kohli's vocal, aggressive captaincy was missed during India's recent drawn Test in Colombo.
• Personal Style: Kohli sparked social media buzz as images of a new tattoo from his personal collection went viral.