Former Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara has lauded Virat Kohli after his fine showing against England in the first Test. Kohli scored over 200 runs in the first Test that not only banished the ghost of the past but also shot him to the top of the Test rankings.

Steve Smith held the number one spot in Tests and after four months of his suspension, someone could finally leap over him in the rankings. With this, he becomes the first Indian to hold the number one spot since Sachin Tendulkar in 2011.

Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara believes that the Indian captain can end up being the best player the nation has ever produced – surpassing even the great Sachin Tendulkar

“The way he is playing, Virat can well become the greatest ever Indian batsman,” Sangakkara told the Times of India.

“In terms of Sachin’s legacy, both in terms of cricket and the way he has dealt with pressure, he is unique. But Virat is well on his way to match that. He is comfortably the best in the world of his generation and with time, he will mature even more.

“If he understands himself a bit better and keeps improving his game, he will break quite a few records,” the Sri Lankan stated.