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Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir lauded Virat Kohli for his composed, match-winning innings in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia, asserting that the experienced batter's ability to adapt to conditions makes him invaluable.

 

Kohli’s 84-run knock in a challenging chase of 265 helped India recover from 43/2, securing a four-wicket victory and a spot in the final, where they will face either New Zealand or South Africa.

 

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir heaped praise on Kohli, stating, “He is a phenomenal one-day cricketer. He knows how to plan his runs, he knows how to plan, whether he is batting first or chasing, and he knows that he adapts to the conditions really quickly. That is why experience and high-quality players are very important, and it is the reason why he has got that kind of record in one-day cricket. I hope he continues to do that in the future as well.”

 

Also read: India's best yet to come, hopes Gambhir before March 9 final

 

Kohli’s vulnerability against leg-spinners had been a subject of scrutiny in recent ODIs against Sri Lanka and England, but Gambhir dismissed such concerns, asserting that dismissals against certain bowlers are inevitable over a long career.

 

“I think he has got a hundred in this competition, he has got a ninety (eighty) in this competition, and eventually, when you have got runs in this competition, you will eventually get out to some kind of a bowler. So rather than dissecting and bisecting that he has got out to leg-spin—when you have played 300 ODIs, you will eventually get out to certain kinds of bowlers, and that is okay,” Gambhir remarked.

 

Gambhir also defended both Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma, stating that while their form in Test cricket may have been inconsistent, their prowess in the 50-over format has never been in doubt.

 

“They have been exceptional players in this format. They have done it for so many years. So, we had no doubt that they are going to deliver come the big tournaments. And they have exactly done that in this competition. So, there was no doubt about their ability, about their experience, and about the kind of hunger they bring to the dressing room. So, there was no doubt about what they could do and what they did in this competition,” Gambhir concluded.