Former India spin wizard Harbhajan Singh rooted for India's captain Virat Kohli ahead of the decider Test match between India and South Africa in Cape Town on Tuesday (January 11). Virat is all set to lead the Indian pack after missing out on the second Test in Johannesburg due to back spasm which further saw India losing the match by seven wickets.
Harbhajan, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, is optimistic about Kohli that he will end his century drought and threw his weight behind him.
"Virat Kohli will return in this Test. I hope his century drought breaks in this match, it's been a long time since we have seen a hundred from him," Harbhajan said.
The run machine, who is not in top of his form, has not produced a century in the longest format for couple of years now.
Moreover, it's been over two years, since he smashed his last International ton. His last centurion knock came off in Kolkata, against Bangladesh in 2019 in a Day-Night Test. But when the time gets tough, the toughy Virat rises to the occasion. This is what he is known for.
Earlier, Virat while addressing a pre-match press conference on Monday (January 10), said he doesn't pay heed to the criticism as long as he is contributing to the team.
"This is not the first time that people have talked about my form, it has happened a few times in my career. England in 2014 was one of those phases. I do not kind of look at myself from the lens the outside world looks at me with. The standards have been set by me myself, they are not an occurrence from the outside world, and more than anyone else, I take a lot of pride in doing the best for the team and wanting to perform for the team regularly," Kohli had said.
The Turbanator also hoped Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara will rack in big scores after their comeback innings in the second Test at Wanderers.
"Hopefully, alongside him, Pujara, Rahane, and the other senior players will show their might once again. They have scored 50s but I'll expect them to convert that into centuries," Harbhajan said.
"The doubts over Pujara and Rahane's selection have subdued a bit because both batted brilliantly for their half-centuries. They couldn't convert it into centuries but because these were important knocks, I feel they have cleared the road in front a bit and shouldn't worry about getting dropped... Well done Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both are senior players and it feels very good when senior players come forward to perform," he further added.
India will not only hope for Virat to end his century drought but also to put a halt to the Test series drought on South African soil by claiming the series 2-1.
