Pakistan have received a timely ‘Virat Kohli’ warning ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. And the warning has come from none other than their own former captain and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq.
Team India and Pakistan will be facing each other in the group stage clash of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be played from June 1 to 29. The highly-anticipated match is set to be played on June 9 in New York. While Pakistan will be hoping to beat India and improve their track record against them in ICC events, one man who can ruin their plans is definitely Virat Kohli.
Even in the last edition, Virat Kohli had single-handedly pulled off a miraculous win for Team India against the arch-rivals. The former India skipper has a stunning record against Pakistan in T20I World Cup. The right-handed batsman has played five games against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup and has scored four half-centuries.
The only time he did not score a fifty against Pakistan was in 2014 when he remained unbeaten on 36 to help India chase down a modest total of 131 runs.
Misbah-ul-Haq’s ‘Virat Kohli’ warning:
As Pakistan gear up to face Team India, Misbah-ul-Haq has said that Virat Kohli has the edge over the Men in Green. He praised the Indian star for his dominance against the Pakistan team. The Pakistan great stated that Kohli has mental supremacy over Pakistan.
“Players have a muscle memory, and it is in their minds when they take on an opposition against whom they perform well. Your impact always stays strong in those matches and it affects the opposition as well. Virat Kohli has that edge, the way in initial matches he performed against other teams and Pakistan he damaged the team by playing crucial innings,” Misbah said on Star Sports Press Room Show.
“Virat Kohli holds a mental supremacy over Pakistan. He would feel more confident in those situations while playing against Pakistan and much more charged up,” he added.
Speaking further, Misbah recalled the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy when Mohammad Amir managed to dismiss Kohli for just 5. Pakistan had gone on to register a famous win to clinch the Champions Trophy. Misbah said that Pakistan could beat India in the upcoming clash if they manage to get rid of Kohli early again.
“He is that kind of player, the bigger the opportunity, rather than taking pressure, he takes motivation from that. He is a top-class cricketer and he has the capability to perform against any opposition. There is only one way, the way he was dismissed initially in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan or any other team has to get him out,” Misbah said.