Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria said that Virat Kohli must come back with a bang in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 if he wants to be part of India's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
As India v Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2022 scheduled in Dubai on August 28, Kaneria said Pakistan would really love to see Kohli's form slump continue, but he has to get his mojo back to be considered for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year.
Danish Kaneria said on his YouTube channel: “If Kohli wants to be considered for the T20 World Cup, he will need to come back with a bang. He will need to perform by hook or by crook. You can't have such huge baggage with the team and then to bench him will also be incredibly tough. Pakistan will hope that Kohli's form slump continues because if he gets back his mojo, he will be dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s star pacer, Shaheen Afridi – who rattled India’s batting line-up in Dubai in the T20 World Cup last year – is struggling to attain match fitness after sustaining a knee injury, which has put his availability for the Asia Cup 2022 in doubt.
Speaking about Shaheen’s fitness, Kaneria said: “Shaheen still has the form with him, but I kept on saying, 'Don't play your ace bowler in all matches because then there are chances of breaking down.' He is with the team to the Netherlands for the ODI series, but if he doesn't play even the third game, then he might be ruled out of the Asia Cup. Good sign for India but a bad one for Pakistan.”
The former spinner also suggested that India should open with Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant to dominate the Pakistan pacers in the Asia Cup 2022, starting on August 27.
He signed off by saying, “India has a number of options to try something different at the top with Rohit. Pant can open the batting and can be given a license to kill so that he takes on the Pakistan bowlers and dominates them. Pakistan is highly dependent on Shaheen to pick early wickets so this can be something India can think about.”
