Virat Kohli not in the ‘Fab Four’? That’s a shocker! But according to legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting, the Indian superstar no longer makes the cut. Instead, Ponting’s list includes Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson—leaving Kohli out of the conversation.
Kohli’s Recent Struggles
Kohli hasn’t been at his best lately, and his performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia didn’t help. Sure, he kicked things off with a century in the first Test, but after that, things went south.
Across five matches, he managed just 190 runs. For a player of his calibre, that’s below par. Ponting acknowledged that Kohli was once unmatched. Five years ago, he was the benchmark, scoring runs for fun across all formats.
But times have changed, and the other three have outperformed him in Test cricket over the last few years.
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“Five or six years ago, when this big four emerged, with [Virat] Kohli being one of those as well, Joe was probably down near the bottom part of that because he hadn’t made the hundreds the other guys had made, but he’s made 19 hundreds in the past four years,” Ponting told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Steve Smith Leading the Charge
While Kohli struggled, Steve Smith has been in phenomenal form. He smashed 141 runs in the first Test against Sri Lanka, marking his third century in just four matches. That innings also saw him reach the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket—becoming only the fourth Australian to do so.
Ponting didn’t hold back in praising his fellow Aussie. “Is he [Steve Smith] the best player of his generation? It’s hard to argue against it,” he added.
“Joe Root is the other one now, and [Kane] Williamson’s record is outstanding as well. Joe’s last couple of years have elevated him right back up there, I think.”
He also pointed out that Joe Root’s resurgence has been remarkable. In the last four years, Root has piled up 19 Test centuries—numbers that put him right up there with the best. Kane Williamson, too, has been a model of consistency, making the Fab Four debate even more intense.
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The ‘Best of the Best’ Debate
Ponting admitted that opinions on the best batter of this generation vary based on nationality.
- Ask an Aussie, and they’ll say Steve Smith.
- Ask an Englishman, and it’s Joe Root.
- Ask a Kiwi, and they’ll pick Kane Williamson.
But when you look purely at numbers, Smith, Root, and Williamson have edged ahead of Kohli in the longest format.
What’s Next for Kohli?
Being left out of the Fab Four conversation is a big deal, but Kohli has bounced back from setbacks before. With his hunger and work ethic, don’t be surprised if he proves the doubters wrong. After all, great players always find a way to rise again.
For now, though, it seems the Fab Four might just be the Fab Three. What do you think—has Ponting got it right, or is Kohli’s comeback just around the corner?
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