Virat Kohli is back, and he’s back with a bang! A sensational century in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has silenced critics—at least for now. But let’s be honest, Kohli has never been just a cricketer; he’s a phenomenon.
And with that status comes an unreal level of scrutiny. When Kohli scores a hundred, it’s business as usual. But when he doesn’t? Oh boy, the knives are out.
The Djokovic-Federer-Nadal Comparison
Recently, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar offered an interesting perspective on Kohli’s journey. He compared Kohli to tennis icons Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal.
You know how it goes with those three. If they don’t win a Grand Slam, people say they’re out of form—even if they make it to the semi-finals. Gavaskar pointed out that Kohli faces the same expectations. Scores of 70 or 80, which would make most players ecstatic, are seen as failures for Kohli.
“We are used to him scoring hundreds in international cricket, and when he doesn’t, people say he’s out of form,” Gavaskar explained.
It’s a double-edged sword. The very consistency that made Kohli a modern-day great now works against him when he falls short of his own sky-high standards.
From Criticism to Comeback
Let’s rewind a bit. Kohli wasn’t exactly at his best during the previous Test series against New Zealand. He managed just 93 runs in six innings. The chatter around his place in the Test team grew louder, with whispers that his spot could be in jeopardy if he didn’t deliver in Australia.
But here’s the thing about Virat Kohli — he thrives under pressure. With the world watching, he walked into the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and delivered a masterclass, silencing the critics in the most Kohli-like way possible.
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This isn’t just about Kohli’s form; it’s about the price of being a legend. When you’re as good as Kohli, people stop comparing you to others and start comparing you to your own peak. That’s why a 70 or 80 from Kohli feels like a letdown to fans who’ve grown accustomed to seeing him churn out centuries like a well-oiled machine.
And this isn’t limited to cricket. As Gavaskar pointed out, Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal face similar criticism. When you’re at the top, even the smallest dip looks like a free fall.
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