Gautam Gambhir praised Virat Kohli for his match-winning innings in India’s World Cup 2023 encounter against New Zealand, saying there can’t be a better finisher than him.
On Sunday, October 22, the Kiwis set the Men in Blue a 274-run goal at Dharamsala. Kohli then hit a 104-ball 95 to enable the two-time winners win by four wickets with two overs to spare and climb to the top of the points table.
During a Star Sports interview, Gautam Gambhir was asked about Kohli almost ending the game as a No. 3 hitter, to which he replied:
“I have never understood why the finisher’s tag is given only to Nos. 5 to 7. An opener can also be a finisher. A No. 11 can also be a finisher. This has just been created by the media.”
Gautam Gambhir
The former India opener held his fellow Delhiite in high regard. He stated, “
“There was probably no finisher 10 years ago. There can’t be a better finisher than Virat Kohli because of the number of games he has won. So don’t call only the Nos. 5, 6 and 7 as finishers. Whoever scores the last run is a finisher.”
Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir went on to say that the finisher’s tag should be removed entirely. He agreed with Sanjay Manjrekar that Kohli should be dubbed “Master Chaser,” just as Sachin Tendulkar is dubbed “Master Blaster.”
Gautam Gambhir praises Virat Kohli’s match-winning innings, says hundred is not important
Gautam Gambhir was then questioned about Virat Kohli coming just five runs short of his 49th ODI century, and he responded:
“Think about how obsessed we are with a hundred that we have stopped remembering the 95-run knock. He has won the match. It doesn’t matter if it was going to be the 49th or 100th hundred.”
Gautam Gambhir
The cricketer-turned-commentator went on to say that the current batting great deserves to be lauded for his 95-run innings in a pressure scenario. He stated:
“Praise him because he won you the match. Zero to 95 is a big journey. Praise him because of the pressure under which he batted. We need to say repeatedly that the obsession with stats needs to end if India have to win the World Cup.”
Gautam Gambhir
During his innings, Virat Kohli hit eight fours and two sixes. He got caught in the deep while attempting to hit a maximum to complete his century.