T20 World Cup 2024: "We don't plan anything..." - Babar Azam's blunt remark on dealing with 'Virat Kohli' threat
Updated - 06 May 2024, 03:45 PM
Table of Contents
Babar Azam-led Pakistan will be one one of the strong contenders for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Under Babar Azam's captaincy, the Men in Green did well in the last two editions of the World Cup although they failed to go all the way.
In 2021, Pakistan stormed into the semifinals before being stunned by eventual winners Australia. In 2022, they made it to the final for the first time since 2009 but could not win the title decider against England. Pakistan will be desperate to go one step ahead this year and become just the third team after West Indies and England to win the trophy twice.
Pakistan will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign to get the momentum. And one man who can spoil their plans is none other than India superstar Virat Kohli. The former India skipper has been Pakistan's major concern in ICC competitions in the last one decade or so and would be eyeing another memorable knock against them this year.
Kohli has a stunning record against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. In five games, he has scored 308 runs against Pakistan at an average of 308. Kohli has hit three half-centuries in five T20 World Cup games against the Men in Green. In the last edition of the T20 World Cup, he had single-handedly powered India to a miraculous win over Pakistan with an unbeaten 82-run knock.
Virat Kohli's knocks against Pakistan in T20 World Cups:
| Runs | BF | 4s | 6s | SR | Ground | Date |
| 78* | 61 | 8 | 2 | 127.86 | Colombo (RPS) | 30 Sep 2012 |
| 36* | 32 | 4 | 1 | 112.5 | Mirpur | 21 Mar 2014 |
| 55* | 37 | 7 | 1 | 148.64 | Eden Gardens | 19 Mar 2016 |
| 57 | 49 | 5 | 1 | 116.32 | Dubai (DICS) | 24 Oct 2021 |
| 82* | 53 | 6 | 4 | 154.71 | Melbourne | 23 Oct 2022 |
Babar Azam on Pakistan's plans to stop Virat Kohli:
Pakistan will be facing Virat Kohli when they lock horns against India on June 9. Ahead of the World Cup clash, Babar Azam was asked whether Pakistan are planning specifically for Kohli ahead of their T20 World Cup.
In reply, the skipper stated that the Pakistan team does not plan specifically for one player. At the same time, he hailed Kohli as one of the best players and said that the team would have plans against him.
"As a team, you always plan against different teams and according to their strengths. We don't plan anything against only one player. We plan for all eleven players. We don't know much about the conditions in New York and we will plan accordingly. He [Virat Kohli] is one of the best players and we will plan against him as well," Babar Azam said.
Before leaving for the T20 World Cup, Pakistan will be visiting Ireland and England for two T20I assignments. They will play three T20Is against Ireland and four against England before the marquee event in the Caribbean and the United States of America.
