Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor and India's current head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has voiced his strong support for former men in blue captain Virat Kohli ahead of the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand. Despite recent struggles in the longest format, Gambhir remains confident that Kohli will be back among the runs, citing the star batter’s unwavering hunger for success.

Kohli’s form in Test cricket has been a topic of discussion, with his last notable performance coming against South Africa in December 2023. In his recent outings, Kohli managed only 99 runs in four innings, with scores of 6, 17, 47, and 29. As India prepares for the critical Border-Gavaskar Trophy later (after New Zealand series) this year, Gambhir is confident that Kohli will bounce back.

"See, my thoughts about Virat have always been very clear. He is a world-class cricketer. He has performed for such a long time. He is as hungry as when he made his debut. I remember opening the batting with him when he made his debut in Sri Lanka to now, his hunger is always there. That’s what makes him a world-class cricketer," said Gambhir, reflecting on Kohli’s dedication and passion for the game.

Gambhir further added:

"I am sure he will be hungry to get runs in this series, and probably moving forward to Australia as well. Once he gets into the run-scoring form, how consistent he can be. He will be looking forward to these three Tests and the series in Australia."

The first Test of the series against New Zealand is set to begin at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The second Test will take place at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on October 24, with the final Test scheduled at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.