Australian coach Justin Langer is confident batsman Glenn Maxwell can eventually become as good as India’s Virat Kohli.

Maxwell has been instrumental during Australia’s ongoing ODI series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. He struck 71 in the third match and 98 in the fourth, as the Australians claimed an unassailable series lead.

‘The challenge for him is, and I’ve said this to him – we’ve just seen Kohli, who is an extraordinarily talented player, he averages 60 in ODI cricket; he is a great player – at the moment, in 99 games, Maxwell averages 32 or 33,’ said Langer.

‘He can be Virat Kohli. He has got the talent to do that. The way he played that T20 hundred in India, the way he played both T20s – we know he’s a great T20 player. His next challenge is to become a great ODI player and then potentially a Test player.

‘So there’s huge upside for him and while he keeps practicing with the purpose he’s got and winning games of cricket like he is, it’s great to have him. It’s obviously a massive challenge, isn’t it? He is now 30 years old and he’s played 99 games, but we all see it – and everyone talks about it – he’s got a huge amount of talent and his challenge has always been to deliver on that talent. And he’s done it in patches.’

The fifth and final ODI will be played in Dubai on Sunday – and will mark Maxwell’s 100th ODI, if he is selected. He has also played seven Tests and 59 T20Is.

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