Star India batter Virat Kohli, one of the leading run-scorers in ODIs, has shared his love for the 50-over format ahead of the upcoming 2023 Asia Cup. Kohli, who is on the verge of completing 13,000 runs in ODIs, said that the ODI format always brings out his best. The veteran also said that he loves the challenges of adapting to different phases of the game to help his team win as well.
However, Kohli is in sublime form with the bat in ODIs this year, having smashed 427 runs in 10 games which came at an average of 53.38, including two centuries. Overall, he has amassed 12,898 runs in 175 ODIs at an average of 57.32, including 46 tons and 65 half-centuries as well. Also, he needs 102 runs to become the fastest to 13,000 runs in ODIs and break the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar. He will look to achieve the feat in the Asia Cup 2023 as well.
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Virat Kohli told Star Sports: “I love playing ODI cricket. I think, for me, ODI cricket is probably the one format which tests your game completely. Your technique, composure, patience, playing the situation, and playing differently in different phases of the game. I think it tests you as a batsman completely. That’s why, I feel that ODI cricket has always brought the best out of me because I like to embrace that challenge and play according to the situation to help my team win. I have always tried to do that, so, as I said, it provides the opportunity to test myself regularly, all aspects of my batting, and that’s why I really enjoy playing ODI cricket.”
Meanwhile, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif shared the significance of having Virat Kohli in the Indo-Pak game in the Asia Cup. He said that Kohli will be an important wicket for both India and Pakistan.
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Kaif said: “I think on his tour of Australia for the T20 World Cup, [especially] against Pakistan, he played exceptionally well. He is a key batter against Pakistan, who knows his role. He’s a chase master and his form is very good.”He returned to form in the Asia Cup in the UAE last year. He scored a century against Afghanistan and then ended his drought. He hasn’t looked back since then. He smashed sixes against Haris Rauf and won the game against Pakistan. Those are the memories that bowlers will remember when they bowl him because he is a big wicket. If they get Kohli, then the game will be entangled, but he is in terrific form. He knows where the bowlers bowl, and his own strengths and weaknesses. Virat Kohli will be a priceless wicket for Pakistan.”
However, in ODIs, Virat Kohli has scored 536 runs in 13 ODIs at an average of 48.73 against Pakistan, including two tons with the best score of 183. He last played against the Pakistan team in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he smashed 83* off 53 balls to help India win by four wickets.
