Before the Asia Cup 2022, questions were raised over Virat Kohli’s place in the Indian T20I team as he was enduring an extended lean patch. However, the great batter silenced his critics by finishing the six-team competition as the second highest run-getter with 276 runs to his name from five innings.
During the tournament, Kohli also ended his much-talked-about century drought as he slammed 122* off 61 balls in India’s last Super-4 clash against Afghanistan.
After regaining his form in the Asia Cup, Virat continued his brilliance in the home T20I series against Australia. He slammed 63 off 48 balls in the third and final T20I, helping India clinch the series 2-1.
Kohli is now expected to do well during India’s T20 World Cup 2022 campaign, starting October 23 with the game against arch-rivals Pakistan at MCG.
WATCH – Virat Kohli, Babar Azam bat together in nets ahead of India-Pakistan clash
Ahead of the game, former India opener Gautam Gambhir has said that more than the number of runs it is important for Virat Kohli and other batters to make impactful runs, which ensure victory for the team.
Speaking on Star Sports before the India-Australia warm-up clash on Monday (October 17), Gambhir was asked about the approach Kohli should have while batting in the T20 World Cup.
To which, the 2007 T20 World Cup winner replied: “A batter’s job is to score runs. A bowler’s is to take wickets. And score runs that help your team win. Not runs that simply help you break records, or score fifties and hundreds. Even a 40 or a 30 is good so long as it helps the team reach a score of 170-180. When you’re chasing, your runs should take the pressure off the lower middle order.”
“If the team wins, then that is your legacy. If you scoring 500 runs doesn’t help your team qualify, then those runs carry no value other than adding to your record. You face as much criticism as the rest of the team does,” he added.
Notably, Virat Kohli scored 19 off 13 balls with 1 four and a six in India’s India’s T20 World Cup 2022 warm-up match against Australia at the Gabba.
The Men in Blue will take on New Zealand in their second and final warm-up fixture before facing Pakistan in the Super-12 stage.
