In-form New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor said while India skipper Virat Kohli is ‘easily’ the best ODI player, his team must avoid getting caught up in the Kohli hype ahead of the five-match ODI series which begins on Wednesday.

Kohli has been the most prolific batsman in ODI cricket for the last four years and towers above the rest when it comes to runs and centuries made. Kohli’s record of 39 ODI tons in just 219 ODIs with more than 10,000 runs make him one of the all-time greats in the format. But Taylor – who himself is in stupendous form in ODI cricket – said there are two other explosive batsmen at the top of the Indian order – Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

“He’s a sensational player, the best one-day player going around, quite easily,” Taylor was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz. “It’s easy to get caught up in him. (But) you’ve got two pretty good openers at the top, Sharma and Dhawan, before he gets in.”

Taylor has been in great form, averaging more than 90 in ODIs in 2018 and making six successive fifty-plus scores. After getting corrective surgery in his eye to remove a growth late in 2016, Taylor has been plundering runs.

“I’ve played a few internationals now and understand my role in the team,” said Taylor. “I’ve worked on my game, and try and rotate the strike early and be as busy as I can. Different shots against spinners at different stages have evolved my game in a positive way.”

The Kiwis were given a late shock after Taylor dislocated his little finger recently. But the 34-year-old said he has recovered. “It’s fine. It looks a lot more sore than it is … no break, but the ligaments were a bit sore,” he said.