Irfan Pathan, the former India all-rounder opined that more than the Asia Cup, Virat Kohli will be key in the 2022 T20 World Cup in October-November, and India would need him at his best when the marquee tournament in Australia comes around.
Virat Kohli’s lean patch has been much discussed and the star batter even took a break from cricket, missing India’s successful tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe. He is, however, set to return to action when India takes on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening Asia Cup 2022 fixture on Sunday.
Irfan Pathan: Indian Team Needs Virat Kohli In Top Form And It’s A Win-Win Situation For Both If He Has A Successful Asia Cup 2022
Virat Kohli has been facing a massive slump in his batting form for almost three years now. His wretched run on the England tour has also raised questions about his place in the T20I set-up when the T20I World Cup is less than 2 months away.
“As far as the mind is concerned, what Virat Kohli will be thinking, what kind of mindset he will be coming in with and playing the matches, I think yes, Asia Cup is very, very important but when I look forward to the World Cup, where the pitches will be very, very good in Australia, which he likes, he thrives on Australian pitches, he’s done really well,” Irfan Pathan said.
“So Indian team needs Virat Kohli in top form. He comes back from Asia Cup in top form, I think it’s a win-win situation for Virat Kohli and the Indian team,” he said.
The much-awaited Asia Cup 2022 gets underway on August 27 in the UAE and a day later, India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai. The high-voltage clash gets more exciting with the fact that Virat Kohli will be back in action after more than a month-long break.
Irfan athan Reckons Indian Team May Look For Other Options If Virat Kohli Fails To Find Form In Asia Cup
Asked what happens if Virat Kohli does not have a great Asia Cup campaign, Irfan Pathan said India may need to look at other options.
“Indian team has so many options, they need to choose from the options,” Irfan Pathan said.
“Because you need someone going into the World Cup in good form. You can not have form in the World Cup. You can’t find form in the World Cup,” he said, before adding that he is “very, very confident” that Virat Kohli would flourish in the Asia Cup.
After his worst season in the IPL 2022 for Royal Challengers Bangalore where he scored just 341 runs at an average of 22.73, Virat Kohli endured a lean patch on the England tour as well, with returns of 11 and 20 in the Edgbaston Test and 1, 11, 16, and 17 in two T20Is and as many ODIs. The run machine Virat Kohli was last seen during the tour of England, where he could only amass 76 runs in six innings.