When Sir Viv Richards dropped by at the team hotel to have a short conversation with Virat Kohli and his boys, one message of his stood out. He told them to not be afraid of expressing themselves on the field as long as they were assured of their strengths and skills. Never the one to back away, Virat Kohli notched up his maiden double hundred in style and the most famous man in Antigua who had delivered the message applauded the feat. It didn’t matter that the double century was scored against his team and at the ground named in his honour, instead it only made him prouder. Soon after India captain got his highest Test score (200), the West Indies legend took some time out to analyze Kohli’s sensational effort forBCCI.TV. Your reaction and thoughts on Virat Kohli’s maiden double hundred? I think It was a magnificent hundred. To score a double hundred at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground is a formidable task in terms of what he has achieved. I remember when I met him at the hotel (before the Test series) I did say good luck, but I didn’t believe he would take it this far in terms of achieving a double. As a batsman myself, it was very pleasing to see and even though it was against the West Indies, I do appreciate seeing class and his was a classy knock.

You registered your first double hundred outside the Caribbean. Virat Kohli has got his outside India. How satisfying is it for a batsman to get a big score away from home? It is always an achievement for you as an individual to go in someone else’s backyard and accomplish victory. We all know what can be accomplished at home but when you go out, you get tougher conditions and it is always a great feeling. For him to be doing that; get his first double hundred here at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and having a chat with him was quite enjoyable too. How special was this knock considering it occurred at the ground that is named after you and with you in attendance? I think it’s very special and for those of us here in Antigua and Barbuda (too), who appreciate seeing good knocks and seeing good batsmen perform. Those who weren’t here today missed something, but I saw it and I am happy to say that it’s the first time I saw Virat Kohli make century and to see him complete the double. I was here to speak, so I had a very good seat and I thoroughly enjoyed that. In your opinion what sets Virat Kohli apart from the rest? The thing that sets him apart is his will. He certainly has a magnificent appetite to perform. His talent is as good as any. Sometimes, we have seen talent fall by the wayside. Kohli has certainly maximized his talent in my opinion and taken it to the next level because of the fact of believing and the will he has and the desire to succeed.