'He is a great player. He has been extremely hungry and hardworking and I think all this combination is paying off now.'

The immense desire to succeed coupled with his hard work has been crucial in the rise of India captain Virat Kohli as a cricketing superstar, reckons former national selector Vikram Rathour.

"He is a great player. He has been extremely hungry and hardworking and I think all this combination is paying off now. He always wanted to be a superstar. He already is now," the former North Zone selector said in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Kohli became the fastest batsman to score 9,000 runs in ODIs during the series-deciding third game against New Zealand in Kanpur on October 29.

In his 202nd match Kohli became the 19th batsman to breach the 9,000-run mark, making him the fastest to get there surpassing South Africa's AB de Villiers as he also moved back to the top of ICC rankings.

"He works very very hard. He always had the ability and all this combination is doing great wonders for him and he is doing great for the country."

Rathour further said India finally boasts of a complete bowling attack with spinners and pacers complementing each other.

"Maybe this is the best ever bowling attack. Maybe this is the most balanced attack, there's nothing short. In past you would have good spinners but not seamers or good seamers but not spinners," the former India and Punjab opener said.

"This looks to me a complete attack. They should not be worrying too much about any surface they play on or against any opponent they face. They have all their bases covered."