Asia Cup 2022: "It’s Going To Get You No Matter How Much You Block Out The Noise" - Robin Uthappa

Kohli scored his international century, almost three years after his 70th century in November 2019. After scoring his maiden T20I century on Thursday, India’s star batsman Virat Kohli not only broke several records, but also provided the team with much-needed relief.

Kohli exploded with a flurry of shots against Afghanistan on Thursday, breaking his century drought with a brilliant six and reached 100 runs off 53 balls to guide India to a formidable 212/2 in the allotted 20 overs. The star batsman was unbeaten on 122 off 61 balls with 12 boundaries and 6 sixes.

Century Will Relieve Burden On Kohli – Robin Uthappa

Uthappa believes that this century will relieve the burden on Kohli. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo at the end of the game, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman said:

“Yeah, well and truly. You’ve got to understand that no matter who you are, irrespective of what your records have been in the past if you go for three years or 1000 days without having a hundred for someone who scored 70 hundred before that yeah it’s going to get you no matter how much you block out the noise.”

“It’s gonna weigh on you, it’s gonna be a burden on you and to break free of that must be very relieving for him.”

“You could see when the camera was on him at certain times when they were fielding, him taking the size of breath, you can actually tell physically that he looked lighter. It seems like something’s off his chest, finally,” Uthappa added.

“From a cricketing perspective, very very happy for him because as a batter you understand what that feeling is like, you resonate with it. Irrespective of what circumstances this came under you can be well and truly secure that he’s back in form.”

“Vacation From Cricket Helped Virat Kohli” – Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been closely watching Kohli for the past three years, believes that it is impossible to exclude outside noise. Pujara feels that the former India captain benefited immensely from the vacation from the West Indies and Zimbabwe series.

“Well, when you speak to him it looked like he was able to cut down the outside noise but I mean I’ve gone through some of it, I know that it’s not easy to cut it down completely. So back of your mind, no matter how much ever you try, it still plays on your mind and I think he has been fighting that, ”the Test veteran said.

“He has said that he has been trying to fight that but now I don’t think he should be worried about anything else now uh since he’s he has scored this hundred. But yeah it hasn’t been easy. He has gone through a tough time but I think this break of five or six weeks that he took helped him a lot I think. He said does this before the Asia Cup started that he needed that break and I think it has done wonders.”

“Mentally He Will Be Much More Relaxed Now” – Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara feels Kohli will be mentally relaxed after scoring his 71st international century.

“I think his flow is back. The way he’s batting, the way he’s timing the ball. We have seen even in not just this innings, but even the 50 which he got, I think his rhythm is back and he will be relieved now.”

“I think there are times where a player is mentally, you know, they feel that they haven’t been scoring a lot of runs, but with this hundred, I think mentally he will be much more relaxed now.”

Virat Kohli finished the Asia Cup with 276 runs at an average of 92 including a century and two fifties.

Kohli’s next appearance will be against Australia in the three-match T20I series starting September 20 in Mohali. He will be in a better frame of mind for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month.

Also read: Asia Cup 2022: ‘Virat Scoring Runs Is A Huge Bonus For The Team’ – KL Rahul