Gautam Gambhir Backs Virat Kohli Despite Recent Form Struggles

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed unwavering confidence in Virat Kohli, despite the star batter's recent struggles with form. Gambhir emphasized Kohli's unwavering commitment and hunger for the game, highlighting his consistent performances over a prolonged period.

"Virat is a world-class cricketer who has performed exceptionally well for a long time," Gambhir said. "His hunger to succeed remains as strong as when he first debuted."

Gambhir believes that Kohli's ability to score consistently once he gets going will soon lead to a return to form. "That hunger is what makes him a world-class cricketer," Gambhir said. "I am confident that he will be eager to score runs in the upcoming series against New Zealand and Australia."

Gambhir stressed the importance of supporting players throughout the season, rather than judging them based on individual performances. "Everyone has off days," he said. "We need to back our players and select the best playing 11, not drop anyone based on a single game."

India is set to play eight Test matches in the near future, and Gambhir believes this period is crucial for the team's performance. "This is an opportunity for the team to perform well in a series of Test matches," he said. "I am confident that everyone is hungry and ready to deliver."

India's squad for the three Tests against New Zealand includes Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep.

New Zealand's squad includes Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd and 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, and Will Young.

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