IND vs PAK: Virat Kohli Will Be Freshened Up Mentally For Asia Cup - Cheteshwar Pujara
Published - 28 Aug 2022, 07:21 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:12 AM
Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes senior player Virat Kohli will come fresh in the Asia Cup when India take on Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.
Kohli has been struggling to score runs for more than a year with fans and experts wanting him to show the older version of a run machine.
Virat Kohli to resume cricket after one month’s break
Kohli was rested for the ODI series against West Indies along with a few other senior players. The Indian batter requested the BCCI to skip the T20Is against Nicholas Pooran & co as well as the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe this month.
Ahead of India’s blockbuster clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022, Kohli opened up about his break and those emotions that affected his mental well-being.
Harbhajan, who has played with Kohli for the Indian team, said the break will be beneficial to the former Indian captain to subdue his rough patch.
Virat Kohli will be well prepared for Asia Cup: Cheteshwar Pujara
Pujara, who has been playing with Kohli for India’s Test side, said the 33-year-old will be prepared for the continental event after resting for a month.
“Virat Kohli is a very hard-working player. While he isn’t in very good form, I feel he’s got a good break before the Asia Cup. He will be freshened up mentally,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo.
“I believe he will be very well prepared for the Asia Cup. It is important for him to start well. If he fires in the first game, he will continue scoring runs throughout the tournament,” he added.
Kohli has a great track record against Pakistan in T20Is, having scored 311 runs in seven innings at an average of 77.75 with three half-centuries.
The senior Indian cricketer hasn’t played enough T20I cricket since India’s shocking exit in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup last year. The 33-year-old has featured in just four T20I games out of 24 India played since the start of the New Zealand series in November 2021.
