Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has drawn a fascinating comparison between Virat Kohli and tennis greats such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, following Kohli’s return to form in the first Test against Australia in Perth.
Despite a lean patch in 2024 where Kohli failed to score a century in international cricket, his performance in the IND vs AUS Test series has been a reminder of his match-winning capabilities. India secured a dominant 295-run victory in the first Test, showcasing an all-round team effort. Kohli’s crucial contributions in the match helped reaffirm his reputation as one of the sport’s finest players.
Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, highlighted the expectations placed on athletes like Kohli, noting the similarities with top tennis stars. He explained that just as fans and pundits often consider Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic out of form when they don’t win titles or reach finals, Kohli faces similar scrutiny when he doesn’t convert good starts into centuries.
“It’s like I said in commentary, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal are title winners. When they lose in the semi-finals, people say, ‘Oh, they’re not in form.’ For others, making the semis would be seen as a great achievement,” Gavaskar remarked.
He continued, “Similarly, with Virat Kohli, because fans are so accustomed to him scoring hundreds regularly, even if he scores 70 or 80—a feat many players would be thrilled with—there’s criticism that he hasn’t scored a century. That’s why there was talk about his form when he hadn’t scored a hundred since July 2023. But Indian fans are passionate and want their stars to consistently perform at the highest level, which is why they’re eager to see him score hundreds.”
Kohli’s impressive run in Australia, where he has often excelled with the bat, provides optimism for his performance in the upcoming second Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting December 6. With momentum on his side, Kohli will be aiming to end his century drought and help India further assert their dominance in the series.
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