Is Virat Kohli the Manuel Neuer of Cricket?
Virat Kohli, former captain of the Indian cricket team, has been compared to legendary football goalkeeper Manuel Neuer by German club Bayern Munich.
With over 200 million followers on social media, Kohli is one of the most popular athletes today. He is the third most followed sports star on Instagram after football greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Bayern Munich Draws Comparison to Football Legend
Bayern Munich made this comparison when a fan asked them to name two athletes from different sports who are alike. They chose Neuer and Kohli as equals in their sports. They used goat emojis, meaning both are among the ‘greatest of all time’ in their fields.
It’s easy to see why. Just as Neuer has changed goalkeeping with his unique ‘sweeper-keeper’ style, Kohli has also revolutionized batting in modern cricket.
Kohli has scored over 23,000 international runs and 70 centuries, making him one of cricket’s best batters. He was also India’s most successful Test captain, leading them to historic wins in Australia.
Like Neuer leads Bayern Munich, Kohli also captained India with distinction until taking a break from leadership recently. Under him, India reached the finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy and 2019 World Cup semi-finals.
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Commitment to Excellence in Sport
Fitness-wise too, Kohli sets very high standards like Neuer does in football. His superb athleticism and training discipline have dominated cricket in the past decade, much like Neuer’s dominance as a goalie.
Though their sports are different, Kohli and Neuer’s total commitment to being the best, professional attitudes, and worldwide popularity make them good comparisons as global sporting legends.
It’s thus no surprise that a champion team like Bayern Munich, who know sporting greatness when they see it, identified the similarities between Kohli and their captain Neuer.
This praise from one of football’s best clubs shows Kohli’s impact goes beyond just cricket, inspiring legends even in other sports. Along with his batting heroics, his drive and dedication set an example even outside cricket.
So while one is a batsman and the other a goalkeeper, Bayern Munich has rightly called Virat Kohli the Manuel Neuer of cricket – a cross-sport icon redefining the standards of excellence in his domain.
