Harbhajan Singh believes Virat Kohli is capable of being "the next Sachin Tendulkar" after his match-winning knock against Australia, while Ashish Nehra said the India talisman is "batting on a different planet."
Kohli conjured a masterclass in Mohali to dump Australia out of the World Twenty20 and ensure it is the host who will face West Indies at the semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday.
The right-hander made 83 off 51 balls as India reached its target of 161 in the final over to win by six wickets on Sunday.
Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, is regarded as cricketing royalty in India and spinner Harbhajan says Kohli could also go down as one of the greats.
He said: "Sachin Tendulkar was obviously one of those rare players that the world has seen. If Virat continues to work hard and do the things that he has been doing now in the years to come, then he could be the next Sachin Tendulkar.
"It will be a proud moment for me if that happens because we were backing a young Kohli since his early days. It is so good to see him flourish and express himself and I am happy for him. Hats off."
Veteran seamer Nehra also lavished praise on his India team-mate Kohli following his heroics against Australia.
"I have seen many players in the last decade and I can say the way Virat Kohli is batting, he is batting on a different planet," said Nehra.
"The kind of shots he plays over cover and mid-off - that six to James Faulkner or those drives to Nathan Coulter-Nile were something out of this world."
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