Virat Kohli is a dedicated and professional cricketer: Sanath Jayasuriya

New Delhi, Dec 1: Former Sri Lanka captain and batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya has hailed India's Test skipper and batting masterclass, Virat Kohli, for his dedication.

Indian captain Virat Kohli achieves another high in Test career

The southpaw, who changed the way One Day International (ODI) matches were played, is mighty pleased with Virat Kohli's development as a cricketer and his work ethics.

"Virat is a dedicated player. He practises and trains hard before every match. He is always concentrating on his game and that is what you need. He is a very professional cricketer. You have a big chance of performing well when you do all the hard work before the match," Jayasuriya was quoted by Mid-Day as saying.

Kohli is in the prime of his form in the year 2016. The Run Machine has amassed 965 runs in 10 Test matches this year and averages a staggering 68.92.

Thanks to his sublime form in Tests, the right-handed batsman has reached at No. 3 in the ICC Test rankings and improved his overall average to 48.

The Test skipper has also slammed two double hundreds this year and his fitness gives even the fittest of sports persons run for their money. Kohli has transformed himself as a complete cricketer and his dedication towards cricket is commendable.

47-year-old Jayasuriya is in India to promote a book titled 'A Tall Order'.

He has played 110 Tests for Sri Lanka and aggregated 6973 runs and 13,430 runs in 445 ODIs.

Here are images of the book launch:

Jayasuriya at the launch of a book 'A Tall Order'

Sanath Jayasuriya is in India to promote a book titled 'A Tall Order'.

Jayasuriya at the launch of a book 'A Tall Order'

Sanath Jayasuriya addressing guests and media persons during a book launch.

Sanath Jayasuriya at the book launch of 'A Tall Order'

Sanath Jayasuriya at the book launch of 'A Tall Order'.

Sanath Jayasuriya at a book launch

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya at the launch of book on cricket 'A Tall Order' by Kapil Pathare.

Jayasuriya at the book launch of 'A Tall Order'

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya launches book on cricket 'A Tall Order' by Kapil Pathare.

An all-rounder himself, Jayasuriya also heaped praise upon India's frontline bowler and all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who is sitting at the top of the ICC Test table in bowlers' and all-rounders' rankings.

"As an off-spinner, Ashwin has improved a lot and as a batsman too he is doing well which is good for India. He is bowling well and always wants to come up with new strategies, which is working well for him," Jayasuriya added.

At present, Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors and admitted that the Sri Lankan Test team is going through a transition phase after Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan's retirement.

"It is very difficult to replace players like Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Dilshan. They had experience of 15-16 years. That was a big task when they appointed me chairman of selectors. I took the risk and we did well against Australia at home and won the Test series 3-0," he said.

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