Dubai 24 Aug : In the lead-up to the start of Asia Cup starting from August 27 in the UAE the legendary India batter Virat Kohli acknowledged that there was an underlying pattern to his low scores during the tour of England that provided him with an opportunity to improve and to overcome while taking time away from playing.Kohli is back with the Indian team for the Asia Cup in T20I format after a gap of more than a full month since he played in the tour of England in July in which he scored scores of 16 and 17 in two ODIs and 11 and 1 in two T20Is, apart from the scores of 11 and 20 in the fifth Test, which was rescheduled to take place at Edgbaston.
He was then relegated to the white-ball tour of West Indies and ODIs against Zimbabwe.Kohli is in an extended period of lean and has not made 100 runs in international cricket since the beginning of November of 2019.
If Kohli is included in India’s eleven-man squad in the Asia Cup opener against Pakistan on the 28th of August in Dubai which is dubbed the “greatest rivalry” in cricket It will also mark his 100th T20I appearance.
“What occurred in England was the result of a pattern, which is something I was able to work on and that I had to sort of overcome.At the moment as you’ve mentioned there’s nothing you can use to prove that the issue is occurring here.”
“So for me is actually a simpler thing to digest because I am confident that I’m hitting well, and at times when I feel the rhythm return, I know I’m batting well.”
“So I’m adamant that for me, this isn’t a problem as it wasn’t in England as I didn’t feel that I was batting very well at all.Therefore, I had to concentrate on one issue that could be exposed repeatedly, that I was able to overcome; right now, that’s not the situation,” said Kohli on “Game Plan” on Star Sports.
Kohli the former India captain, went on to elaborate on the significance of this period of his long-running lean period for his career and how it’s changed his outlook on the game and his personal life.
“I am aware of my current position and you can’t go this far in your international career without the ability to counter situations , counter counter different types of bowling.”
“So this, for me is a simpler phase to go through however, I don’t intend to leave this moment behind me.I’d like to take away lessons from this, and I’d like to know what are the fundamental values I hold as a person, a sportsperson, and an individual.”
“As As long as I’m completing the boxes, I’m aware that there will be fluctuations and ups and downs.And when I get out of this phase, I’ll know how consistent I am.My experiences are important to me.What I’ve had to endure in this moment or in the past, the one thing I can confirm is that I’ve never been more proud of myself as an individual.”
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