‘Sacrifice Runs for Virat Kohli’: Sunil Gavaskar’s Big Statement on Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer

Virat Kohli dream of reaching 100 international centuries has sparked an interesting discussion in Indian cricket. This time, legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has shared his perspective, suggesting that teammates helping Kohli achieve the historic milestone could bring happiness to millions of Indian fans.

Gavaskar’s comments came after India’s opening ODI against New Zealand, where Kohli scored an impressive 74 runs from just 51 deliveries. However, the former India captain believes Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer could have faced an uncomfortable situation if Kohli had remained unbeaten in the 90s when India completed the run chase.

His remarks have once again brought attention to the balance between individual milestones and the team’s responsibility to win matches.

Sunil Gavaskar Explains the Situation Facing Gill and Iyer

The incident took place during India’s first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4.

India were chasing a revised target of 143 runs in 32 overs under the DLS method after rain interrupted the match. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the opening over, bringing Kohli to the crease earlier than expected.

Kohli joined captain Shubman Gill and quickly built momentum. The pair added 113 runs for the second wicket, putting India in a strong position to complete the chase.

Kohli reached his half-century in only 35 deliveries. However, with the target reduced because of rain, the number of runs required to win became smaller. This also reduced his opportunity to reach another ODI century.

Kohli eventually departed for 74. India went on to win the match by five wickets.

Gavaskar believes Gill and Iyer were spared a difficult situation because Kohli did not remain at the crease in the 90s. Had that happened, the two batters could have faced criticism if they had scored the winning runs before Kohli reached his hundred.

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Gavaskar Wants Kohli to Complete 100 International Centuries

Kohli currently has 86 international centuries and is chasing the remarkable milestone of 100 hundreds across formats.

Sachin Tendulkar remains the only batter to have achieved 100 international centuries. Kohli needs another 14 hundreds to reach that landmark.

Gavaskar openly expressed his desire to see Kohli reach the historic figure. He suggested that if a teammate occasionally sacrificed personal scoring opportunities to give Kohli a chance to complete a century, Indian cricket supporters would celebrate the achievement as well.

However, the former India captain also highlighted an important condition: such support should not compromise the team’s chances of winning.

This is particularly relevant because Kohli has retired from Test and T20 international cricket. He now represents India only in the ODI format, making every opportunity to add to his international century tally important.

Why Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer Could Have Faced Pressure

Gill was leading India during the Auckland ODI, while Iyer was scheduled to bat after him.

If Kohli had continued batting and moved close to his century, both players could have faced a tricky decision about how aggressively to approach the remaining target.

Scoring quickly would help India finish the match, but it could also reduce Kohli’s opportunity to reach 100 runs.

Gavaskar’s argument highlights the unusual pressure that can arise when a senior player’s personal milestone becomes part of a close run chase.

It also shows why captains sometimes have to balance individual achievements with the bigger objective of securing victory.

Gavaskar Recalls a Similar Incident From 1984

Gavaskar also referred to an incident from the 1984 Lord’s Test between England and the West Indies.

During West Indies’ successful chase, Gordon Greenidge was approaching victory while his batting partner Larry Gomes was unbeaten on 92.

Greenidge continued attacking and struck three consecutive boundaries to finish the match. Gomes consequently missed his century.

Gavaskar recalled the incident to explain that cricket has previously witnessed situations where a team’s victory and an individual milestone have come into conflict.

His comparison offered a historical perspective on the Kohli discussion and showed that such situations are not new to the sport.

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Kohli’s 100-Century Dream: How Many More Does He Need?

Kohli’s pursuit of 100 international centuries remains one of the biggest individual milestones being followed by Indian cricket fans.

With 86 international hundreds, he needs 14 more to equal Tendulkar’s historic record.

His remaining international opportunities are limited to ODI cricket following his retirement from the other two formats. Therefore, consistency and fitness will play important roles in determining whether he can reach the target.

Gavaskar’s comments have added another dimension to the discussion. While fans would love to see Kohli achieve the milestone, the team must also continue prioritising match results.

Ultimately, the ideal situation would be for Kohli to reach his 100th international century while helping India win the match.

FAQs

What did Sunil Gavaskar say about Virat Kohli?

Gavaskar suggested that teammates sacrificing some personal scoring opportunities to help Kohli reach 100 international centuries could make Indian fans happy, provided the team’s chances of winning are not affected.

Why did Gavaskar mention Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer?

He explained that Gill and Iyer could have faced criticism if India had completed the first ODI chase while Kohli remained unbeaten in the 90s.

How many international centuries does Virat Kohli have?

Kohli has 86 international centuries and needs 14 more to reach 100.

When did Kohli score 74 against New Zealand?

Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls in the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, on November 4, 2026.

Who holds the record for 100 international centuries?

Sachin Tendulkar is the only cricketer to have scored 100 international centuries.