India’s near-flawless form in Test cricket this year has seen them win seven out of eight matches, with hopes high as they gear up for the upcoming three-match home series against New Zealand. However, speculation continues to surround star batter Virat Kohli’s form in the longest format of the game. Since his last Test century in July 2023 against South Africa, Kohli has managed just one score above fifty in eight innings.
‘My thoughts about Virat have always been very clear’ – Gautam Gambhir
Addressing Kohli’s form, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was quick to emphasize the batter’s stature, describing him as a “world-class cricketer.” Gambhir was optimistic that Kohli’s hunger for runs would serve him well in the upcoming series. “My thoughts about Virat have always been very clear, that he is a world-class cricketer. He has performed for such a long period of time. He is as hungry as when he made his debut. To now, his hunger is always there. That hunger is what makes him a world-class cricketer. I am sure that he will be hungry to get runs in this series and probably moving forward to Australia as well,” stated Gambhir, according to Hindustan Times.
Gambhir also commented on the fairness of judging a player’s performance on a game-by-game basis. He noted the importance of focusing on the team’s overall results instead. “You don’t keep judging people after every game. If you keep judging people after every game, that’s not fair on them. It’s a sport and people are bound to fail. But more importantly, I think if we can get the results, if people are doing what is needed of them to get the results in our favour, that is fine,” he mentioned.
As India gears up for a busy red-ball season, starting with the first Test on October 16, 2024, all eyes will be on Kohli to see if he can silence his critics with a strong performance against New Zealand.
