Gautam Gambhir has highlighted the backing Virat Kohli has received from the Indian team management. Kohli brought an end to his century drought in the Super 4 clash against Afghanistan of the Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday, September 8 in Dubai.
He stormed back to form with a scintillating unbeaten 122 off just 61 deliveries, his 71st international century. The former Indian skipper had to wait over 1000 days to notch up a hundred. While he has looked in decent touch, the three-figure mark eluded him.
The wait finally came to an end at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where vintage Kohli was on display as he hit the bowlers seamlessly all over the park. Gautam Gambhir reckoned that no other cricketer would have survived for three years without scoring a hundred.
“Look, he has to realize that it has been three years, not just three months. Three years is a very long time. I am not going to be critical of him but he has earned this backing as he has scored loads of runs in the past,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“I don’t think any younger player would have survived in international cricket had they not got a 100 in the last three years. This eventually had to happen and it has happened just at the right time. But let’s be fair, I don’t think anyone would have survived for this long,” Gambhir added.
“Virat mere dil ke bohot karib hai” – Saqlain Mushtaq on Kohli-Babar debate
Pakistan coach Saqlain Mushtaq weighed in on the Virat Kohli-Babar Azam debate and decided to pick Azam over the Indian star. However, Mushatq had a special message for Kohli and said that he is a player who is close to his heart.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Mushtaq was asked his opinion on both players and asked to pick one between the two. The former spinner said:
“Definitely Babar kahunga… but Virat mere dil ke bohot karib hai (I will definitely pick Babar, but Virat is close to my heart).”
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