‘I think he could…’: Rahul Dravid’s big prediction for Virat Kohli’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy win

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid said that India star Virat Kohli can have a big series against Australia during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy and getting a century early in the series is good for him. Virat broke his Test century drought of over 500 days and showed his class in his favorite Australian conditions with a return to form century against the Aussies at Perth’s Optus Stadium, tiring the Aussies out mentally and physically to set the tone for 295 – run, win .

In a conversation with Star Sports, Dravid said about Virat: “He is batting very well, even in South Africa a few months ago when we were there, I thought he was batting very well on a couple of difficult wickets. can get that hundred early in the series, I think he could have a big series.”

During the match, Virat scored an unbeaten 100 off 143 balls with eight fours and two sixes. His runs were 69.93. After scoring a century, Virat breathed a sigh of relief and raised his bat above his head.

Virat has now scored his 81st international century and continues his pursuit of idol Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries. This is also his 30th century test. In 119 matches now, Virat has scored 9145 runs at an average of 48.13 with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. His best result is 254*.

Additionally, with 54 List A centuries, nine T20 centuries and 37 first-class centuries, Virat has completed 100 centuries in professional cricket.

Virat also became the seventh player to score 2000 runs in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In 26 BGT matches, he scored 2147 runs at an average of 48.79, including nine centuries and five fifties. His best result is 186.

This is Virat’s seventh Test century in Australia, the most by an Indian batter as he has now passed Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored six Test tons in Australia. He also equaled England’s Wally Hammond for second place in Tests in Australia. The most Test centuries in Australia belong to Englishman Jack Hobbs with nine tons. In Tests in Australia, Virat scored 1457 runs at an average of 56.03, including seven centuries and four fifties. His best score is 169.

This is Virat’s 12th international century in Australia, the most by any player. He scored 3,531 runs in 43 matches and 55 innings at an average of 56.95 in Australia, with 12 centuries and 19 fifties and a best score of 169.

In 35 Tests since the start of 2020, Virat has scored 1,943 runs at an average of 32.93, with three centuries and nine fifties. His best score at this stage is 186.

Talking about Jaiswal, Dravid said that Jaiswal is going from strength to strength and it is hard to imagine that he made his debut just a year and a half ago in the West Indies.

“He actually started just recently. And to go to Australia and play in Perth and score a hundred in your first Test match on Australian soil, I don’t think many people have been able to do that. I’m sure someone like him, with his hunger, desire and determination, will only get better and better,” he concluded.

After a first-innings duck, the 22-year-old opener bounced back with a restrained but aggressive 161-run knock against Australia’s formidable bowling attack at Optus Stadium in Perth.

In 15 Tests, Jaiswal scored 1,568 runs at an average of 58.07 with four centuries and eight fifties. His best score is 214* and all his centuries have been converted into scores of 150 or more.

All these matches took place in the 2023-25 ​​ICC World Test Championship cycle, where Jaiswal is the second-highest run-scorer behind England’s Joe Root, who has amassed 1,750 runs in 19 matches, including six centuries and six fifties.

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