Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Babar Azam, recently faced questions at a press conference preceding their tour to Ireland and England. With the highly anticipated T20 World Cup match against India on the horizon, Azam was queried about Pakistan’s plans for countering Virat Kohli. However, his response left some room for skepticism. While clashes between India and Pakistan are inherently tense, Kohli’s remarkable track record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups adds to the pressure. In 10 encounters, Kohli has amassed an impressive 488 runs at an average of 81, including five half-centuries. Recognizing Kohli’s Prowess Azam acknowledged Kohli’s cricketing prowess, labeling him as one of the best in the game. However, he stressed Pakistan’s approach of strategizing for the entire Indian team rather than focusing solely on individual players. Azam admitted that while Kohli is indeed formidable, the unfamiliar conditions in New York would dictate Pakistan’s game plan.
“As a team, you always plan against different teams and according to their strengths. We don’t plan anything against only one player. We plan for all eleven players. We don’t know much about the conditions in New York and we will plan accordingly. He [Virat Kohli] is one of the best players, and we will plan against him as well,” stated Babar Azam.
While a comprehensive strategy is crucial, understating the threat posed by Kohli might be a risky move.
