“He can score 4 centuries in the series” - Former India cricketer defends Virat Kohli ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former India batter Sunil Gavaskar reckons Virat Kohli can finish the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with four centuries if he scores a hundred in Brisbane. He pointed out that the modern batting great has an added incentive to play a three-figure knock at Gabba.
India and Australia are tied 1-1 heading into the third Test starting in Brisbane on Saturday, December 14. Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 in India's second innings in the first Test in Perth but aggregated only 18 runs across two hits at the Adelaide Oval, his happy hunting ground, in the second game.
During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan', Gavaskar noted that Kohli could join him and Sir Alastair Cook as the only overseas batters to score a century in five Test venues in Australia. He added that the 36-year-old might also score a century each in the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
"If he scores a century in Brisbane, it will be great. It's an incentive as well as you know that you join a club if you score a century in Brisbane, the one to score a century everywhere in Australia," Gavaskar said.
"After that, going forward he will play in Melbourne and Sydney, where he has scored centuries. So he can score centuries there as well. It means he can score four centuries in the series," the former India captain added.
Virat Kohli has scored seven Test centuries in Australia. He has reached the three-figure mark thrice in Adelaide, twice in Perth, and once each in Melbourne and Sydney.
"Bradman too never had a series where he scored runs in all Test matches" - Sunil Gavaskar on Virat Kohli's failure in Adelaide
![Virat Kohli was dismissed for seven and 11 in his two innings in Adelaide. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/9612e-17339816894981-1920.jpg?w=500)
Reflecting on Virat Kohli's failure in both innings in Adelaide, Sunil Gavaskar noted that even the great Sir Don Bradman never scored big runs in every Test of a series.
"Bradman too never had a series where he scored runs in all Test matches. You fail in an odd Test match. I hope that the failure in Adelaide will be compensated in the upcoming three Tests," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Kohli will be among the runs if he is slightly cautious against the line and length the Australian bowlers are targeting him.
"With the slight problem he is having around the off-stump, which is the case for every batter, but the line and length Australia stick to against him, if he plays that slightly carefully, runs will definitely be scored," Gavaskar observed.
Kohli was caught at second slip off Mitchell Starc in the first innings and by the keeper off Scott Boland in the second essay in Adelaide. Josh Hazlewood had him caught by Usman Khawaja at first slip in the first innings in Perth.