As cricketers in England we think we are quite famous. On a good day maybe one or two people will recognise us in the street and say hello.

Life for Virat Kohli is very different. For a start, he cannot walk down the street. Going out for dinner is akin to a military operation and he tells me he loves the solitude of overseas tours when he puts his headphones on and takes a stroll around a park in Melbourne or London without being mobbed.

How do you handle the adulation of a billion people? Sachin Tendulkar has coped with it since the age of 16 and Kohli admits himself he was once one of those who stood in awe of the Little Master, barely able to speak to him when they first shared a dressing room.

But Sachin was not the only legend in his team. There was Sourav Ganguly, the Prince of Calcutta, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni - all giants of Indian cricket.

Kohli stands alone now, particularly with Dhoni retiring from the Test arena. His social media accounts total more than 50million followers. Earlier this year ESPN placed him eighth on the list of the most famous sportsmen in the world, one place below Tiger Woods and ahead of any Englishman. His earnings are said to top $60million. The Indian papararazzi follow his every move.