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Following a heated exchange between former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli during IPL 2024, Gavaskar has now issued a challenge to Kohli to join him and Alastair Cook in an exclusive club.
The altercation stemmed from Kohli’s criticism of commentators questioning his strike rate and ability against spinners following a century he scored in IPL 2024. Gavaskar criticized Star Sports for repeatedly airing Kohli’s remarks and subsequently rebuked Kohli for his response to the commentators, suggesting that if he truly disregarded outside opinions, he should refrain from reacting to them.
Sunil Gavaskar challenges Virat Kohli to score a Century in Gabba
During a recent event, Sunil Gavaskar appeared to take a subtle jab at Virat Kohli by highlighting Kohli’s absence from the list of century-makers at the Gabba.
As Kohli gears up for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia later this year, Gavaskar expressed his singular wish for Kohli: to witness him score a century at the renowned venue in Brisbane, Queensland. Notably, it was at the same ground where Rishabh Pant played a memorable innings, aiding India in clinching a historic victory over Australia in 2021. Despite Pant’s heroics, he couldn’t join the elite club of century-scorers at the Gabba.
Gavaskar harbors a strong desire for Kohli, a highly accomplished batsman, to break the century drought at the Gabba. He aspires for Kohli to become only the third overseas batsman, following in the footsteps of himself and former England captain Alastair Cook, to achieve a century at the iconic venue.
“On an individual level, [my wish] maybe for Virat Kohli is that he becomes the third overseas player who’s scored a Test century in all the Australian venues. I think he doesn’t have one at the Gabba, so if he gets a century at The Gabba, that means he joins me and Alastair Cook.” – Sunil Gavaskar said in an event.
From 2011 to 2020, Virat Kohli’s performance in Australia was notable.
Virat Kohli missed out on India’s historic Gabba Test victory and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in 2020-2021 as he opted to be with his wife, Anushka Sharma, for the birth of their first child, Vamika. Although absent from that memorable victory, Kohli did lead India in the previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. With his return to the Australian shores for his fifth tour since his senior debut, expectations are soaring.
As Kohli prepares for another stint in Australia, he aims to bolster his already impressive record in the Land Down Under. Across 13 Test matches in Australia, Kohli has amassed 1352 runs at an impressive average of 54.08, inclusive of six centuries and four half-centuries.