“He brings eyeballs to the game” - Legendary wicketkeeper rates Virat Kohli’s performance in BGT 2024-25

Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has lauded Virat Kohli for his all-round performance in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test series. The 53-year-old suggested that Kohli was a complete package, giving him 7.5 rating points out of 10 for bringing 'eyeballs' to the game.

The remarks came even though Kohli had a quiet series, barring his unbeaten 100 in Perth. The 36-year-old scored a total of 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75, getting out caught behind while playing outside the off-stump channel in all his eight dismissals.

In a video on the YouTube channel 'Club Prairie Fire,' Gilchrist said (23:45 onwards):

“We did say that, he’s an all-rounder package, he brings eyeballs to the game. So, yeah 7.5/10.”

In the same discussion, former England captain Michael Vaughan came up with similar sentiments, pointing out how Kohli entertained the spectators during the five-game series. He said:

“He [Virat Kohli] brought the barge, sandpaper, geed up the crowd. He’s probably run at Konstas faster than I’ve seen anybody run at player in history of the game. I’m gonna give him a 7/10 for the entertainment that Virat Kohli brings.”

Vaughan and Gilchrist further lavished praise on Jasprit Bumrah, who was adjudged the Player of the Series for picking up 32 wickets in nine innings. Vaughan called the pacer the ‘GOAT,’ saying (26:33 onwards):

“10/10, Well, he is good as Gilly called him. The greatest sportsman of all time.”

Meanwhile, speaking highly about India's T20 World Cup-winning hero, Gilchrist opined that Bumrah would’ve ripped apart legendary batter Don Bradman at his peak. He said:

“I’m not rating him, no number befitting what he is in world sport. I’m beyond [trinity], seriously. He would have ripped on Bradman’s peak in the matter of balls. It would have been much further south of 99 [average] that he sits at [if they faced each other]. I would give Donald 35 out of Bumrah. You cannot have a reward that’s high enough for him.”

Earlier, former England batter Kevin Pietersen had lauded Kohli for “creating theatre down under.” He wrote on X during the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia in Melbourne:

“Virat creating theatre down under! Let’s GO! Imagine how boring it would be without the showman! And he’s earned EVERYTHING with his runs over his career! Many would end their successful international careers with a 1/4 of what he’s achieved….”

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“He’s a player I want in the team” – Michael Vaughan lauds Virat Kohli's ex-IPL teammate

In the same video, Michael Vaughan backed Mohammed Siraj for giving his 100 percent for the team despite being way behind Bumrah in the series. The 50-year-old said (28:10 onwards):

“I like Siraj, the sendoff [to Travis Head] was great. He got booed at every venue. He just brings in great drama. He’s created that spice for the series. 8.5, I think he’s a player I want in the team. He just runs in all day.”

Gilchrist also lauded Siraj for his game, saying:

“Love him, love for everything that he brought.”

Siraj picked up 20 wickets in the five-game series Down Under.