Ravi Shastri, former India coach was asked about Virat Kohli reaching the triple-figure mark after 1020 days, and he gave his insight on it after the star batter’s ton against Afghanistan.
For Virat Kohli, his ton against Afghanistan in an Asia Cup Super 4 match was relieving, to say the least. After over 1000 days, Virat Kohli scored a ton in international cricket.
Ravi Shastri Feels Virat Kohli Will Be 5 Kilos Less After Scoring His Maiden T20I Ton And First Ton Since 2019 In Any Format
His 122* off 61 balls against Afghanistan was also the highest-ever individual score in T20I cricket by an Indian. With the 2022 T20I World Cup starting in less than two months’ time, the timing could not have been better for Virat Kohli to roar back to form.
“You mentioned 1020 days, I can say 700 days I was in that dressing room when that happened. It’s a long time. The monkey is off his back now.
“When you had astounding success like he has, when 70 hundreds come like this, then you go through a patch of one, two years, two-and-half years, two-and-three quarter years, and then everyday people start reminding – ‘It’s been that long’,” Ravi Shastri said.
“He is human. It would have been eating him up. He would be getting up every morning, whether thinking of it or not, subconsciously being reminded,” Ravi Shastri said.
“Today, I think he will be five kilos less. Don’t ask me where the weight has gone from, five kilos less at least from the head. You could see from the last 40 runs of his innings. It was Virat Kohli. His trademark shots, the confidence, the poise, the utter disdain for bowling is back. It took a long time coming,” Ravi Shastri said.
On Thursday, the night belonged to Virat Kohli who warmed a billion hearts with a special inning. His unbeaten effort off 61 balls got him his first hundred since November 2019 and 71st overall, equalling Ricky Ponting’s tally of international centuries.
Afghanistan managed to score only 111/8. India won by 101 runs in Dubai on Thursday and ended their Asia Cup 2022 campaign. The former Indian skipper scored 276 runs in five innings at an average of 92. His return to form will be even better with the 2022 T20I World Cup less than two months away.
KL Rahul Too Scored 62 Off 41 – His Best After Returning From A Long Injury Layoff
He is now only behind Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list. It was also Virat Kohli’s maiden ton in the shortest format. With Rohit Sharma being rested for India’s final game of the tournament, stand-in skipper KL Rahul (62 off 41) and Virat Kohli shared an entertaining 119 off 76 balls for the opening wicket.
Virat Kohli started toying with the field and bowlers towards the end of the innings, enough indication that he was back to his best. The knock from KL Rahul was his most confident one ever since he came back from injury.
The openers played brilliantly against the spinners, including Rashid Khan (0-33), an area they needed to address heading into the upcoming 2022 T20I World Cup.