- Thursday, February 27, 2025
Virat Kohli played a match-winning knock against Pakistan in T20 world cup in Australia last year.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FORMER India cricket captain Virat Kohli said ahead of his team’s high-voltage clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup that one has to be at his “absolute best” to face a team such as Pakistan.
Speaking in an interview titled ‘Prime Time With Virat Kohli’ aired by Star Sports channel, the 34-year-old ace batter termed the match on Saturday (2) as an “exciting challenge” and added that the Pakistani team has a lot of talent.
Praising Pakistan’s bowling which recently drubbed teams such as Afghanistan and Nepal (first match of Asia Cup 2023), Kohli said, “They are a quality team overall but I feel bowling is their strength. They have got some really impactful bowlers that can change the course of the game anytime based on their skill set.”
The ace batter, who single-handedly took India to victory against Pakistan in the T20 world cup in Melbourne, Australia, last year by smashing two back-to-back sixes in the penultimate over, also said that the one-day international format has “always brought the best” out of him.
“I like to embrace that challenge and play according to my situation to help my team win, and I’ve always tried to do that,” he was quoted as saying.
“For me, ODI cricket is probably the one format which tests your game completely — your technique, your composure, patience, playing the situation and playing differently in different phases of the game. I think it tests you as a batsman completely.”
Kohli has played some remarkable knocks in the 50-over format, including smashing a match-winning 183 against the arch-rivals in Asia Cup 2012 in Mirpur, Bangladesh. It remains his highest personal score in the 50-over format.
He also spoke highly about Pakistan captain Babar Azam recently.
India will take on Pakistan a number of times over the next few weeks, including the Asia Cup. They will lock horns in the world cup in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat on October 14.
On Saturday, they will play at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy in a Group A game. Pakistan are currently sitting at the top of the group after hammering Nepal, the third side, by 238 runs on the opening day of the tournament in Multan, Pakistan.
