Indian skipper Virat Kohli has reached such a stage that with every run he scores, he seems to shatter one record or the other. Kohli’s recent form in the India-South Africa series has led former Proteas’ skipper Graeme Smith heap praises on the Indian captain who has led his team from the front.

Talking about Virat Kohli in an interview with Espncricinfo, former South African skipper Graeme Smith said, “I was a little worried in the Test series, in game one and two. I thought his emotions were getting the better of him and maybe that was starting to impact the players around him.”

“But I think he’s got himself under control. His own game has been incredible. He’s led from the front, he’s given India the mindset that they can play away from home, that they want to be here and in tough conditions. That is key and he’s led the way. As long as India stay on top, he’s going to be hugely successful. I think the challenge for him as India’s best player is if India get under pressure for a long period of time, how would that affect his batting? But at the moment he is looking sublime,” Smith added.

When Smith was asked whether he believes Virat is the best in the world, he said, ” Best player in the world.”

In the recently concluded six-match One Day International series, Kohli scored 558 runs and became the first-ever player in the world to score more than 500 runs in a bilateral series.

In the on-going of South Africa, Virat has scored 871 runs so far in three Tests, six ODIs and two T20I.

Notably, India have lost the three-match Test series by 2-1. After the defeat in the first and second Test match, Virat was criticised for choosing the playing eleven.

Earlier, Smith had even raised fingers at Virat Kohli’s leadership credentials and had said if he really was the right choice for the captaincy in the longer run.

According to espncricinfo, at a breakfast event organised by South African TV network SuperSport, Smith had questioned Kohli’s leadership skills in the company of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and cricketer-turned-commentator Pommie Mbangwa.

“I don’t know, when I look at him, if he is a long-term captaincy option for India,” Smith, the most successful Proteas Test captain, had said.