Virat Kohli's decision to pull himself out of the Test format suddenly was like a bombshell that shook the entire cricket universe. Kohli's Test cricket career expanded for almost 14 years, was an example of why people call the Indian batter a legend of modern cricket.

Former England international and another cricket legend, James Anderson, acknowledged Virat for his illustrative career. In a conversation, Anderson did not hesitate to call the former Indian captain "the fiercest competitor out of those 4." The 'Fav 4' of modern cricket refers to Virat Kohli (India), Joe Root (England), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), and Steve Smith (Australia).

Cricket fans often debate who's the best among these 4 batters. On the other hand, Anderson, throughout his vast career, was up against multiple cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and many others. But he has a special space in his heart for Virat Kohli.

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While speaking in the telecast, the Englishman said about the flamboyant cricketer that Virat's ability to adapt to the conditions with his technique impressed Anderson the most. According to the former pacer, "He (Virat Kohli) was definitely the fiercest competitor out of those 4. He always stood up to the ground, obviously a fantastic player of the world."

Virat Kohli vs James Anderson in numbers

Virat Kohli has a decent record against James Anderson across the formats. In Test cricket, the iconic batter has faced James for 710 deliveries against an average of 43.6; Anderson dismissed Kohli a total of 7 times in the format. 

In ODIs, Anderson's success rate was higher against Virat, clearing him thrice by bowling 38 deliveries, and Kohli was able to make only 26 runs.

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James Anderson on Virat Kohli:

"The fiercest competitor out of those 4 is definitely Kohli". [TalkSport Cricket] pic.twitter.com/ADow0HFDJS

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 14, 2025