Bowlers have to plan for each version against Kohli: Uthappa

India skipper Virat Kohli and limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma are undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in world cricket at present. And Rajasthan Royals batsman Robin Uthappa feels that while Rohit seems to have an eternity while facing the bowlers, Kohli stands out because of the way he can change gears from one format to the other.

Speaking on Star Sports' show Cricket Connected, Uthappa said: "When I look at Rohit, I feel he has got eternity to play a ball. It just baffles you like where does he create that time. It's amazing to watch and so effortless.

"Even Virat for that matter, when you watch him bat from one version of the game to another, you can see how clearly, he has planned for each version of the game. In one-day cricket, he almost never hits the ball in the air, unless it's completely required during the course of the game.

"Similarly, in Test cricket, he is only going to hit the ball in the air once he has passed 120 or 150. But in T20 cricket, he pulls out the big shots and his orthodox big shots that you don't even think that he will play it, because you have seen him play so much of good cricket along the ground in ODI & Test cricket that you don't anticipate him playing that. Suddenly, the bowlers have to plan for each version of the game."

Uthappa feels that the way Kohli approaches each of the versions of the game is just phenomenal. "For me, someone like Virat, the way he approaches each version of the game is just phenomenal. It's kind of inspiring, like what must be going through that mind for him to be able to concede those ideas and say, 'Ok, these are my shots for T20 cricket, these are my shots for one-day cricket, and these are my shots for 5-day cricket. It's just amazing'," he said.