IND vs AUS, Champions Trophy 2025: 'Greatest ODI Player of All Time' - Virat Kohli Earns Plaudits From Cricket Fraternity

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Former and current cricketers hailed Virat Kohli following his chasing masterclass for India against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final on Tuesday (March 4) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

In a high-stakes clash dominated by echoes of the past, India avenged its 2023 ODI World Cup final heartbreak by sending Australia out of the Champions Trophy with an exhilarating four-wicket triumph in Dubai.

Kohli once again grabbed the spotlight as his perfectly-calculated knock of 84 runs guided India to match-winning position, lifting them from 43/2 to a successful run chase of 265 runs, which was proving to be tricky initially.

Once again, the 36-year-old made a tough run-chase look like a cakewalk and re-wrote several records in the process. Speaking after the match in the post-match presser, Smith said about Virat, "He is arguably the best chaser the game has seen. He has done it numerous times against us. He controls the tempo of the game really well."

Meanwhile, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said, "He has done it for us for so many years. We were very calm." Kohli also earned praise from former Australian captain Michael Clarke and former teammate Ambati Rayudu.

Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar after the India Vs Australia clash in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, Clarke commented on Kohli's innings: "Once again, he assessed the conditions brilliantly. A class player, he knew exactly what his team needed and how to put them in a position to win the game.

"We saw the same in his century against Pakistan. Virat has every shot in the book-there's no questioning his ability to find boundaries. He is, in my opinion, the greatest one-day cricketer of all time, and he continues to prove it on the biggest stage, under the highest pressure. He knows what to do, and he delivers when it matters most."

"I think his skill against leg spin and left-arm spin, along with his ability to rotate the strike through mid-wicket and square leg, was exceptional. On a pitch that was turning and stopping, he made it look effortless, which speaks volumes about his skill," Rayudu added.

"Never doubt his ability to hit fours or sixes-it's about composure and understanding what is needed on the day, then executing it to perfection. He is a once-in-a-generation cricketer, the greatest of all time in this format. It's a special night for him, his family, and 150 crore Indians who are blessed to witness his greatness."