India batter Virat Kohli may have scored centuries in One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) centuries over the last few months but has failed to do so in the Test arena. His last ton came back in 2019 and in the first Test against Australia in Nagpur, he was dismissed by debutant Todd Murphy for just 12, caught down the leg-side.
However, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes Kohli will end his Test century drought in his hometown Delhi, the venue for the second game of the four-match series.
Kohli has scored 467 runs at 77.83 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, that includes a highest score of 243 - against Sri Lanka in 2017. In fact, Kohli has scored more runs in just two other venues - Wankhede Stadium (469) and Adelaide Oval (509).
"See there has been just one innings and there are three more Test matches left. A player of his stature is expected to score in every match. But this was just one innings and I feel the century comeback can be a possibility at his home ground in Delhi," Gavaskar told India Today.
India went 1-0 up in the series thanks to a comprehensive victory in the first game in Nagpur, going on to win by an innings and 132 runs, inside three days. Rohit Sharma scored his first century as captain and some all-round performances from Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, saw India out up 400 in reply to Australia's 177.
The Indian bowlers were rampant once again in the second innings, bowling Australia out for just 91 - their second lowest score against India. A win in Delhi would ensure that India have one foot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will be played in June at The Oval.