"My thoughts about him are very clear": Gautam Gambhir on Virat Kohli ahead of IND vs NZ Tests

Virat Kohli has reached and eventually broke many notable records to register his name as one of the best to ever play for India. However, the batter is currently facing a lean patch in red-ball cricket as witnessed during the India vs Bangladesh series. The series witnessed the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant smash respective centuries. However, the Test contest fared rather subtle for Kohli who had returned to home Test cricket after 18 months. Now, with scrutiny over his recent outings, India's head-coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the prolific player for the upcoming India vs New Zealand series.

"A world-class player": Gautam Gambhir backs Virat Kohli for the India vs New Zealand Test series

Virat Kohli has come under the radar following his underwhelming performances in the recent Test series against Bangladesh. So far in 2024, Kohli has participated in three Tests for India across the home series against England and Bangladesh. The former skipper, meanwhile, has failed to register even a half-century this season. The Bangladesh series that fared significantly impressive for team India, didn't prove fruitful enough for Kohli. Coming in at 4, his scores in the Bangladesh series read 6, 17, 47, and an unbeaten 29 across four innings.

Irrespective of the struggle that Virat Kohli faced in the series, India registered a thumping 2-0 sweep over Bangladesh. Now, the team is ready to host New Zealand for a three-match Test series that starts on October 16 in Bengaluru. Landed into the red-ball rhythm through the Bangladesh series after 9 months of inaction, Kohli will aim to regain his form in the home contest. With India preparing for the challenge, head-coach Gautam Gambhir addressed a press conference. During the press meet, the former Indian batter voiced his support for Kohli and made a bold prediction regarding his future performances.

"My thoughts about Virat has always been very clear, that he is a world-class cricketer, he has performed for such a long period of time. He is as hungry as when he made his debut. I remember opening the batting with him when he made his debut in Sri Lanka, to now his hunger is always there and is already there."

That is what makes him a world-class cricketer and I am sure that he will be hungry to get runs in the series and moving forward to Australia as well," Gambhir said in his interaction ahead of the India vs New Zealand Test series.

Despite the recent dip, Kohli boasts an average of 45.57 against the Kiwis. Batting across 11 Tests facing New Zealand, Kohli has scored 866 runs with three centuries and three half-centuries to his name. Against New Zealand on home soil, Kohli has accumulated 557 runs in six Tests, averaging 55.70, with two centuries and two fifties. The former Indian captain, moreover, is also on the verge of crossing the 9,000-run milestone in Test cricket through the New Zealand series, effectively, positioning himself to become just the fourth Indian to achieve this feat,