Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar launched a passionate rant on India's performances in Test matches and lauded Virat Kohli on placing importance on the format.
Team India returned to action in Tests on Friday when the team faced Sri Lanka in the first match of the series in Mohali. The game saw Virat Kohli reach the 100th Test landmark and remains special to Indian cricket as well, as Rohit Sharma began his tenure as the country's 35th captain in the longest format of the game. Rohit replaces Kohli, who is credited with India's huge growth in Tests over the years.
When Kohli was honored for reaching the 100 Test landmark ahead of the Mohali Test, he pointed out that one of the "takeaways" from his career for the younger generation could be his dedication to the longest format. During the lunch break in the Mohali Test, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar - who was the first Indian to reach 100 Tests - lauded Kohli and insisted that the country is "too invested" in Test cricket.
“What you need to consider is that Test cricket was played a lot when the first 10-11 Indian players reached 100 Tests. White ball cricket was not played as much. But from 2008-2009 onwards it reversed. White-ball cricket was played more and Tests were left behind. So, if one needs to give importance to the game, he has to play Test cricket,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
The way Kohli played Test cricket, the way he captained, he showed the world the importance of Test cricket. Outsiders say that India is not focusing on Test cricket. they are wrong. India is heavily invested in Tests. But the way India has struck a balance between white-ball cricket and Test cricket is commendable.
The legendary former India batsman further said that the respective Test sides of former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli played a major role in the improved stature of the game.
“We have Test matches every season and the way Dhoni and Kohli's teams have played in those games is the reason for the format's superior stature in the world at the moment. Everyone knows that a cricketer is evaluated on the basis of his performance in Test cricket. If you don't score runs or take regular wickets in Tests, you won't be counted as one of the greats of the game," Gavaskar said.