Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Virat Kohli after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter produced a record-setting century in Raipur, insisting that the conversation about “Gen Next” power-hitters has not dented Kohli’s standing at all. Gavaskar’s message was clear: while fresh faces are grabbing headlines, Kohli has once again demonstrated that the “old guard” still sets the benchmark. The former India captain highlighted how special the innings looked, especially because it came in the middle of a chase—an area where Kohli has repeatedly built his reputation on the biggest stages.
Kohli’s knock was also a statement of resilience. After suffering back-to-back ducks, he returned with authority, and the timing of the innings made it even more memorable. In Raipur, the RCB star smashed his ninth century in the IPL and steered Bengaluru to a successful pursuit of 193 against Kolkata Knight Riders. The innings didn’t just move the scoreboard—it added another chapter to an already historic career. Kohli became the first Indian batter to reach double figures in T20 centuries, reaching 10 T20 hundreds in the process. He also turned another milestone into a speed record, becoming the fastest player in cricket history to accumulate 14,000 T20 runs.
Speaking on Star Sports’ JioStar Cricket Live, Gavaskar focused on what he believes separates Kohli from the rest: his ability to shape a chase rather than simply attack from ball one. He noted that Kohli’s work in limited-overs pursuit games is something most players struggle to replicate, pointing out that it is not only the boundaries that define him but also the planning and execution across overs.
“Virat Kohli knows how to construct a chase better than most players in world cricket. What he has achieved and the way he goes about his innings will take a very long time for anyone to match,” Gavaskar said. He then added that Kohli’s impact versus KKR was evident from the way he controlled the chase and paced the innings with precision. “Virat Kohli was absolutely outstanding against KKR. He knows how to construct a chase better than most. When it comes to T20 centuries, he is third on the list with 10, behind Chris Gayle and Babar Azam. But he is the fastest to 14,000 T20 runs and has nine IPL hundreds. Records are there to be broken, but it will take a very long time for anyone to match what Kohli keeps delivering, game after game, season after season,” the former captain remarked.
Gavaskar also reflected on the wider narrative around the tournament, acknowledging that many were framing the current phase of cricket as the era of “Gen Next.” In his view, Kohli’s century cut through that storyline. By delivering when it mattered, Kohli silenced the doubters, remained central to the title conversation, and climbed to third place in the Orange Cap race. For Gavaskar, the innings served as a reminder that experienced match-winners still have the ability to decide games and shift momentum—one special chase at a time.
