Gautam Gambhir Believes 'World-Class' Virat Kohli Has Nothing to Prove in England

”Comparison is the thief of joy,” probably, the saying by Theodore Roosevelt is currently fitting well upon Indian skipper, Virat Kohli. The classy right-handed batsman has achieved a lot of illustrious feathers in his hat but still, people are stuck to his dismal United Kingdom (UK) tour in 2014 as a youngster. But, the stylish southpaw, Gautam Gambhir batted for Virat Kohli and suggests the modern-day stay not to think over his previous outing.

Pertinently, the southpaw Gambhir went on to say that Kohli is already a world-class player and there is no need for him to prove anything whatsoever.

The 29-year-old Kohli hasn’t had a great series previously when India toured England some four years back. He was still fresh in his Test shoes and faced the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad in his first-ever tour.

However, he is a complete new batsman since then and eventually bagged numerous records.

Virat has to be himself, India expects a lot from him: Gautam Gambhir

Taking an example, Gambhir added the legendary Ricky Ponting too failed to register more than one century in India but still, he is figured out as one of the best players in the world cricket. Much of the same, Gambhir terms Kohli as a masterclass.

”Someone like Ricky Ponting! He has only had one international hundred in India and people still call him a legend. You can’t define someone if he has had just one bad tour. He (Kohli) has already proved himself in different conditions, so he should not be thinking on the lines that he has to prove something on the English tour,” Gambhir spoke to Cricbuzz.

“He has to be himself, not because he is the captain but because he is a world class batter and at the same time he is someone India expect a lot of runs from,” Gambhir added.

Kohli already proved himself: Gautam

The veteran opening batsman, Gambhir wants Kohli to not take any extra pressure of proving himself. He feels that Kohli is already a proven player and probably, one of the top three batters in the world.

”He can’t put additional pressure on himself thinking that the last tour of England wasn’t great. Important thing is that he has already proved himself to the world and is probably one of the top three batters in the world,” the southpaw inferred.

All in all, Gambhir urged Virat Kohli to show his class in the upcoming Test matches against England without keeping the previous performance in his mind. As far as limited-overs is concerned, Kohli seems to be in an ominous form.