T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli vs Pakistan: Today, India and Pakistan will face off in a T20 World Cup match in New York. This will be their second encounter in this series, with India coming off a victory against another opponent, and Pakistan looking to bounce back after a defeat.
Understanding why King Kohli behaves differently against the Pakistani side is crucial when talking about him. Virat Kohli has played Pakistan five times in the T20 World Cup.
In these matches, he has scored 308 runs in 5 innings, averaging 308.00 with a strike rate of 132.75. He has also scored 4 half-centuries against Pakistan in these matches.
Kohli’s highest score against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup is an unbeaten 82. He has not been out in 4 out of 5 innings against Pakistan.
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Here are his scores:
T20 World Cup 2012: Unbeaten 78 runs
T20 World Cup 2014: Unbeaten 36 runs
T20 World Cup 2016: Unbeaten 55 runs
T20 World Cup 2021: 57 runs
T20 World Cup 2022: Unbeaten 82 runs
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Why Virat Kohli Goes on the Offensive Against Pakistan
Kohli is known for his ability to maintain composure and not let emotions affect his decision-making. His confident stance, aggressive body language, and purposeful actions make him stand out.
Facing bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Aamir, Kohli is always prepared from the first ball. This readiness is a hallmark of a player who takes immense pride in his performance.
World Cup encounters further energize the 35-year-old Kohli. In four 50-over World Cup matches, he has scored 9, 107, 77, and 16. In the T20 World Cup, his scores are 78*, 36*, 55*, 57, and 82*.
That’s 308 runs in five innings with just one wicket lost, all during India’s lone World Cup white-ball loss to Pakistan in Dubai in 2021.
The unbeaten 82 at the MCG was a masterclass, leading India to victory single-handedly. His extraordinary backfoot straight six off Rauf was not only the stroke of the tournament in Australia but also a contender for the shot of the century.
Pakistan has always tried to get Kohli out early, believing it to be half the battle won. However, the champion batsman has other plans.
On Sunday, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan will aim to dismiss him early, especially since he will be opening the batting against them for the first time.
They hope the new ball and Afridi can do the trick. However, they know deep down that they will need either a special delivery or some luck to send Kohli back early, as he has consistently proven to be formidable with the bat.
T20 World Cup 2024: India vs Pakistan
Here are the battles between Pakistani bowlers and Indian batsman Virat Kohli.
| Bowler vs Batsman | Innings | Balls Played | Runs Scored | Out |
| Shaheen Afridi v Virat Kohli | 2 | 31 | 34 | 1 |
| Mohammad Aamir v Virat Kohli | 2 | 19 | 16 | 0 |
| Haris Rauf v Virat Kohli | 4 | 32 | 42 | 0 |
T20 World Cup 2024: India vs Pakistan, Last Five Battles
2022 witnessed a thrilling showdown at the iconic MCG between India and Pakistan, aptly dubbed “The Virat Kohli Show.” Pakistan set a target of 159/8, with Shan Masood scoring 52 runs, but India’s Hardik Pandya’s impressive 3/30 restricted them.
In response, India reached 160/6, largely thanks to Virat Kohli’s exceptional 82 runs, supported by Haris Rauf’s 2/36. Despite a shaky start at 31/4, Kohli’s resilient innings led India to victory with four wickets to spare, including some memorable strokes, including a majestic six.
In 2021, Pakistan broke a streak against India in Dubai during a senior men’s ICC trophy contest. India managed only 151/7, with Virat Kohli contributing 57 runs, but Shaheen Afridi’s devastating 3/31 spell posed a challenge.
Pakistan’s openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, showcased patience and skill to chase the target without losing a wicket.
In 2016, a star-studded India side, including MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, defeated Pakistan in a T20 World Cup match. Pakistan’s 118/5 proved inadequate against India’s 119/4, with Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 55 steering the chase to victory, despite Mohammad Sami’s 2/17.
2014 saw India spin a web in Dhaka, restricting Pakistan to 130/7 with notable performances from spinners Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravi Ashwin. India comfortably chased down the target with contributions from Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli.
In 2012, Kohli’s dominance continued in Colombo as India bowled Pakistan out for 128, with Laxmipathy Balaji’s 3/22 and key contributions from Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh.
Kohli’s unbeaten 78 ensured India’s victory in just 17 overs, displaying his exceptional form with eight fours and two sixes.
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Source: Google News