Cricket World cup 2015: Plenty for Virat Kohli still to do, says Dav Whatmore

Auckland: Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore hailed the impact of Virat Kohli on the Indian team Thursday but insisted the batting superstar still has plenty to achieve.

Whatmore coached Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja during India`s junior World Cup triumph in 2008 and will come face to face with them again on Saturday in the teams` concluding World Cup Pool A game at Eden Park.

"Like any young player, if you are involved in their development, it is always nice to see progress. To be very honest with you, I was only there for a short period of time but the time I spent with them was enjoyable," said the widely-travelled Whatmore, who worked at India`s national cricket academy from 2007 to 2012

"It wasn`t difficult to see that they had potential to go on and it is nice to see they have realised it. There is still more for them to do."

Whatmore, who also coached Sri Lanka to the World Cup title in 1996, said Kohli has set an example for youngsters to follow.

"He is confident. He was confident also as an under-19 captain. But there have been many examples of confident young players who don`t follow up and follow through. He is one who has," said Whatmore, in charge of Pakistan before taking up Zimbabwe job in December last year.

The Zimbabwe coach said he had also been impressed by India`s bowling attack which has been revived at the World Cup after enduring a dismal Test series against Australia and tri-nations ODI tournament which preceded the World Cup.

"It`s a team that is bowling the opposition out frequently and that has been a big plus for India," said Whatmore.

"Their batting talent has never really been in question. What was needed was a good strong bowling performance and they have done that."

Whatmore said Zimbabwe will miss experienced batsman Brendan Taylor who will retire from international cricket after the World Cup and will play county cricket for Nottinghamshire.

A former national captain, Taylor has scored 1,493 Test runs, including four centuries, and 166 one-day internationals.

"It is true we will miss Brendan, who is going to Nottingham, and they are very, very lucky to have him. Despite that, we feel we have got a number of players who make this team really strong in terms of what they offer. 

"The problem is that we haven`t had enough matches. If we had enough matches, then I am sure that in certain defining moments, we would be equal to it. We would not be going home on Sunday. We would be playing in the second round."