SA vs IND 2022: Hope Virat Kohli’s century drought breaks in this match – Harbhajan Singh

India’s former experienced spinner Harbhajan Singh is hopeful that Virat Kohli will break his century drought in the upcoming third Test match against South Africa at Cape Town.

Kohli had scored his last International hundred back in 2019 when he scored a century against Bangladesh in the pink-ball Test match at Kolkata.

Since then the three-digit mark has eluded the Indian captain in all three forms of the game. Kohli has been chasing his 71st International ton but he has had to wait for more than two years.

The talisman has been getting off to starts in the recent past but he has failed to convert them into substantial scores. Kohli had scored 35 runs in the first innings of the opening Test match at Centurion against the Proteas and followed it with a score of 18 runs in the second dig. The right-hander was dismissed while chasing a wide off-stump delivery in both innings.

Harbhajan Singh said in a video on his YouTube channel: “Virat Kohli will return in this Test. I hope his century drought breaks in this match, it’s been a long time since we have seen a hundred from him. Hopefully, alongside him, Pujara, Rahane, and the other senior players will show their might once again. They have scored the 50s but I’ll expect them to convert that into centuries.”

He added: “Once we put up 350-400 runs, and if we have two spinners playing there, which I am assuming because they should, then India can dominate completely. KL Rahul is in good form, Mayank is starting well but isn’t able to convert. I hope India will play this like the perfect match.”

On the other hand, the Turbanator reckons Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane shouldn’t worry about getting dropped. The duo added 111 runs in the second innings of the second Test match. Pujara scored 53 runs while Rahane added 58 runs and thus both of them are expected to keep their place in the third Test.

The Turbanator added, “The doubts over Pujara and Rahane’s selection have subdued a bit because both batted brilliantly for their half-centuries. They couldn’t convert it into centuries but because these were important knocks, I feel they have cleared the road in front a bit and shouldn’t worry about getting dropped… Well done Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both are senior players and it feels very good when senior players come forward to perform.”

The third Test match will be played at Cape Town from January 11.