MELBOURNE: Aust­ra­lian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist has called Virat Kohli a great leader and said it is time for both the countries to put an end to the ‘cheatgate’ controversy before it turns into infamous 2008 ‘monkeygate’ episode.

“Kohli is a great leader. He drags his team and his nation with him,” Gilchirst said.

“I’m fearful Virat Kohli is due for a lot of runs (in Dharamsala),” he said.

“It has been an exceptional series. (But) both the teams maysit back in the end and think they may have said somethings differently. But we can all move on and I’m glad that it has not escalated to the really nasty scenario in 2008 that dragged on and on,” he said.

“Everyone was frustrated and that is apart of history between the two teams,” the legendary wicket-keeper batsman said.

“At the end of the day there is a lot of respect between the two teams because they fear each other as opponents. Both the teamsare fine competitors.”

“I think it’s fair to say thateveryone is surprised the way Australian team has performed over there (in India). So many predictions but they have done themselves proud. Australia has performed extremely well,’

“It has been a wonderful series.So many people are saying to me it is the best series they have seen in Indiasince 2001. That (2001) series was extraordinary and India came out on top but who knows what lays ahead,” he added.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017