November 27, 2024: Sunil Gavaskar’s comparison of Virat Kohli to tennis legends like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal sheds light on the burden of extraordinary consistency placed on top athletes.
Just as fans and pundits criticize the tennis greats when they fall short of winning Grand Slams—even after reaching the semifinals—Kohli faces similar scrutiny when he doesn’t score a century, despite consistently posting scores in the 60s and 70s. Gavaskar’s analogy highlights the unreasonably high expectations that come with being a player of Kohli’s caliber.
Kohli’s consistency in international cricket has set a benchmark, so much so that even scores that would be celebrated by most cricketers are often seen as underwhelming in his case. For fans, who are accustomed to Kohli’s rapid accumulation of centuries, a score of 70 or 80 doesn’t seem enough, even though it would be a remarkable achievement for most players. This is a double-edged sword of fame and excellence—while it’s a testament to his ability, it also creates a pressure that few others face.
Gavaskar also touched upon how the Indian fans, often described as “greedy” when it comes to their cricketing idols, demand nothing short of the best from their stars. This is particularly true for Kohli, whose recent Test century against Australia, breaking a 500-day drought, demonstrated his class and ability to respond to pressure. Gavaskar acknowledges the fans’ expectations but also emphasizes that even small contributions from Kohli should be seen as valuable, especially considering his impact on the team and his ongoing chase for Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries.
In terms of Kohli’s form, Gavaskar also noted a technical change in his stance, especially in the second innings of the match. He observed that Kohli appeared “relaxed” and perhaps altered his position slightly to make himself more comfortable on the bouncy Australian pitches. These small adjustments, though subtle, may have contributed to Kohli finding the right rhythm and scoring that crucial century.
With 81 international centuries now to his name, Kohli is steadily approaching Tendulkar’s monumental record, and fans are eager to see him add to his tally. Kohli’s journey is an ongoing saga of resilience, form, and pressure, and as Gavaskar rightly points out, even a 70 or 80 from him should be celebrated, given the expectations that he must constantly meet.
In the end, Kohli’s legacy will be defined not just by his record-breaking centuries but by his ability to thrive under the immense pressure of being India’s cricketing icon. And as Gavaskar suggests, it’s crucial that fans learn to appreciate the sheer quality of his contributions, even when they fall short of a hundred.