There were smiles all round the ground as India booked a place in the semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 courtesy yet another Virat Kohli special. Teammates walked out to congratulate the champion player and senior pros Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra even lifted him in delight. “He is tremendous. I have seen lots of the greats playing brilliant innings from time to time, but this is Virat Kohli’s time and he is the number one batsman in the world. There is no doubt about it,” exclaimed Harbhajan Singh. “The way he looks after himself, the way he prepares is just outstanding. He is a champion player.” For Ashish Nehra, it was as though Kohli was batting on a different pitch altogether. “I have seen many players in the last decade and I can say the way Virat Kohli is batting, he is batting on a different planet,” gushed Nehra. “The kind of shots he plays over covers and mid-off - that six to James Faulkner or those drives to Nathan Coulter-Nile were something out of the world.” The duo even spoke highly of Kohli’s work ethics that sets him apart from the rest. “I have seen him since childhood. The last three to four years he has taken his game to a different level,” continued Nehra. “He trains hard, keeps a check on what he does and what he eats. He is always hungry and wants to perform in every game. There is so much belief in him. He gets into the field with a feeling that I am the only one who is going to do it, and he has been doing it consistently.” “His self belief is something which is very different than the others. He is one guy who just wants to take the opportunity and take the challenge,” added Harbhajan. “He is always there when the team needs him. He wants to take the responsibility. He wants to be there and finish the game for India and that is what sets him apart. Kohli has been fantastic. His work ethics are special and it is showing in the middle. He is a brilliant player.” Both players agreed that the situation did put them under pressure, but in Kohli they trusted. “Even if it was 70 odd runs in six overs we were always in the game. Till the time Kohli was there, we knew that we are in and we would finish the game,” smiled Harbhajan. “He is taking the responsibility and has been doing it for many years now. He is taking the team through consistently.” “There is so much pressure on him to perform. At times when we are chasing, as a teammate, I feel he is the pillar between the other team and the win,” pitched in Nehra. “He is very comfortable chasing and he knows what the target is. We were under pressure in the dressing room during the chase. I was talking to Harbhajan that I am always comfortable being on the field during such situations instead of being out of it. But the way Kohli did it and has been doing, it is phenomenal.” So is he the next batting legend in the making? Fair to say getting into the shoes of Sachin Tendulkar? “Sachin Tendulkar was obviously one of those rare players that the world has seen,” Harbhajan said. “If Virat continues to work hard and do the things that he has been doing now in the years to come, then he couldbe the next Sachin Tendulkar. It will be a proud moment for me if that happens because we were backing a young Kohli since his early days. It is so good to see him flourish and express himself and I am happy for him. Hats off!