Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of India, addressed the same topic briefly before highlighting Kohli as a “world-class cricketer” in his remarks. He was also sure that when Kohli bats in the series, his ravenous desire for runs will work to his advantage.
In 2024, India’s nearly perfect form in the longest format is undeniable. In the forthcoming three-match home series against New Zealand, they are expected to increase their numbers, having won seven of the eight Test matches this year. Virat Kohli‘s performance in Test matches, however, has been the subject of ongoing conjecture. Only one score exceeding 50 runs in eight innings has been attainable by him since his last red-ball century, which he achieved against South Africa in July 2023.
I have always had a pretty clear opinion about Virat: he is a top-tier cricket player. So much time has been spent performing by him. His hunger hasn’t decreased since his debut. He is still always hungry. His hunger is what makes him a top-tier cricket player. He would undoubtedly be eager to score runs in this series and likely travel to Australia as well,” Gambhir said, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Despite his natural competitive nature, Gambhir was quick to acknowledge that it was irrational to judge someone after every game they played. He also mentioned that, in the end, he was more concerned about the team’s performance as a whole.
“You stop passing judgment on them after every game. Continually passing judgment on somebody after each game is unfair to them. Since it’s a sport, failure is inevitable. “But more importantly, I think it’s okay if we can get the results and if people are doing what they need to do to get the results in our favor,” Gambhir said.
I have to continue to support the players: Gautam Gambhir
As the team prepares for a long red-ball season for India, Gambhir also reiterated his primary position in the dressing room and considered the players’ intentions.
“Not everyone has the best days every single day. We seem to have the mentality that we should continue to support our athletes. The players need my continued support. Keeping the best playing XI and not dropping anyone is my responsibility. Everyone is probably hungry and aware that there are eight consecutive Test matches. Thus, this is most likely the beginning of them showing well in eight consecutive Test matches,” Gambhir continued.
Also Read: IND vs NZ: India squad announced, with Jasprit Bumrah named vice-captain
On October 16, 2024, the first Test of the series is set to start. Even after Gambhir’s remarks about Kohli, many people will still be watching him closely as he enters the middle. It’s unclear how the 35-year-old will do against the Kiwis.
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