India head coach Gautam Gambhir has extended his congratulations to Virat Kohli on completing 16 years in international cricket. Given their shared history in Indian cricket, with Gambhir being a senior player when Kohli made his debut, the coach holds a unique perspective on the legendary batter's career.
Gautam Gambhir Praises Virat Kohli on 16 Years in International Cricket
Gambhir was present at a pivotal moment in Kohli's career when he scored his maiden international century against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens. The two formed a crucial partnership in that match, laying the foundation for India's victory. Despite their public disagreements in the past, Gambhir has consistently admired Kohli's unwavering dedication and passion for the game.
ALSO READ: ICC announces schedule for U-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025, Team India grouped with these four teams
Virat Kohli made his international debut on August 18, 2008, against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. Since then, he has ascended to the pinnacle of world cricket, establishing himself as a legendary figure across all formats of the game. Star Sports shared an old video where Gambhir reflected on Kohli's journey. Gambhir, who witnessed Kohli's early days, expressed no surprise at his meteoric rise, highlighting the exceptional talent Kohli possessed from the very beginning.
"When he made his debut in Sri Lanka and played his first ODI, I remember he had got out early. But I knew that he would serve the country for a long time the way he was batting in the nets. He had so much talent that it was just a matter of time that he will perform and I wasn't surprised with his performance," Gambhir said in a video posted by Star Sports on X.
Gautam Gambhir Highlights Kohli's Winning Mentality
Gambhir emphasised Kohli's innate ability to win matches, a quality evident from the early stages of his career. Kohli's winning mentality has been a hallmark of his illustrious career.
"He was a brilliant player and had a great attitude and temperament. He knew how to fight and win matches for his country when he came into the team. It was the biggest positive of his entire cricketing career the way he won matches for his team," Gambhir added.
Virat Kohli: A Modern-Day Great
Virat Kohli has redefined batting standards in international cricket. His extraordinary feats include amassing nearly 14,000 ODI runs and approaching 9,000 Test runs. His dominance in ODIs is unparalleled, surpassing even Sachin Tendulkar's record for centuries. With 50 centuries and 72 half-centuries, Kohli's ODI career is nothing short of exceptional. Kohli's T20 prowess is equally impressive, with 4188 runs from 125 matches at an average of 48.69. His match-winning abilities in this format culminated in a triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, where he played a pivotal role in India's victory before retiring from the format.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Sarfaraz Khan fails to perform against Haryana in Buchi Babu Tournament's opener clash
