Virat Kohli on his next Target After Smashing Maiden T20I Century In Asia Cup 2022
Virat Kohli on his next Target After Smashing Maiden T20I Century In Asia Cup 2022
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Following his century-making performance against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup Super-Four stage, former India captain Virat Kohli stated that his primary objective for the competition was to try and focus on the areas he needed to improve from a team's standpoint.

“My only goal (coming into the Asia Cup) was that, all those things I needed to improve from the team’s perspective, I will come and try in the tournament,” said Kohli, he scored his 71st International Century in the massive 101-run victory against Afghanistan at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday evening. 

However, Kohli's first T20I century came a little bit too late as India exited the competition after earlier losses to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. “It was a very special day for us as a team. We had spoken after the previous match (loss against Sri Lanka) that we need to take the field (against Afghanistan) with a positive attitude, as that will matter a lot for us. This tournament was very important for us, definitely. We got the exposure of the knockout stages, we got exposed to pressure situations,” added Kohli.

However, Kohli stated that the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in October–November remained the team's primary objective and that the Asia Cup had provided them with many new insights. 

Kohli added, “But our goal, everyone knows, is the (T20) World Cup in Australia, and we are improving in all aspects of the game. We will learn from the matches (here) that did not go well for us” 

Rohit Sharma praised Virat Kohli for scoring his long-awaited 71st century in international cricket, saying the batting legend produced some exquisite smashes and selected the gaps skillfully. 

“71st hundred, the entire country was waiting. The time you have spent playing cricket, I’m sure this milestone was round the corner. I think today’s innings was special because we wanted to end the tournament on a winning note. We saw a lot of things in your innings. You picked the gaps nicely, played some lovely shots and targeted the right bowlers,” Sharma said in a video posted on BCCI TV. 

In his 13–14-year professional career, Kohli said the month-long sabbatical from cricket before the Asia Cup was the first time he had not picked up a cricket bat. “Since the time I’ve come back to the side after the break… after 13-14 years, for the first time, I did not touch the bat. A lot of things came into perspective,” remarked Kohli, adding that the team's support was crucial to his successful comeback.

“The support from you people (team), management… the communication was crystal clear that ‘muhje khelne do’ (let me play)… let me bat. I think that was very important for me because the space you all (teammates) gave me, it made me feel quite relaxed in this entire phase. And, when I returned (from the break), I was excited as to how I can contribute to the team,” said Kohli.

Kolhi claimed that in order to help his team out more, he had to play the innings he did against Afghanistan. The 33-year-old destroyed Afghanistan on Thursday, scoring an undefeated 122 off 61 deliveries. 

“I had to play this kind of an innings as the (T20) World Cup is ahead of us. If I play well, I can contribute more to the team. 3-4 days back Rahul (Dravid) bhai has spoken to me on batting first and how to optimally utilised the middle-overs phase… how I can improve my strike rate. My only goal was that all those things I needed to improve from the perspective f the team, I will come and try in the Asia Cup,” added Kohli.

After the forced break, Kohli said he was pleasantly surprised—no, shocked—to score his first T20I century.

“I didn’t really expect (it). I was in fact shocked like many of you… that I would score a century in this format of the game first after such a long time. But I was pleasantly surprised, and I’m very grateful and honoured right now,” added Kohli.

Kohli spoke to this dashing batsman before 71st century, this 'secret' came out

Kohli's sensational 122, Bhuvneshwar's five-fer help India thrash Afghan by 101 runs

“Went back to the drawing board; came back fresh, excited::Virat Kohli

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