What went wrong for Rohit Sharma-led India in Asia Cup 2022?

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently offered fans insight into his take on Virat Kohli's athletic prowess and prospects on the field.&nbsp;

Ganguly waxed lyrical about Kohli in a recently surfaced video on YouTube. He admitted that even&nbsp;though they had competed on the field in&nbsp;different generations, Kohli had the makings of surpassing Ganguly owing to his unique set of skills.

Ganguly also admitted that although he had featured in more matches than Kohli over the course of his lengthy career, the 33-year-old is well on his way to overcome him in that regard.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/others-wouldnt-have-survived-gautam-gambhir-on-virat-kohli-being-in-indian-team-for-3-years-without-a-ton-514878" hreflang="en">Others wouldn't have survived: Gautam Gambhir on Virat Kohli being in Indian team for 3 years without a ton</a>

“The comparison should be in terms of skill as a player. I think he is more skilful than I’m. We played in different generations, and we played a lot of cricket."

"I played in my generation, and he will continue playing, probably playing more games than I did. Currently, I have played more than what he has but he’ll get past that. He is tremendous.”&nbsp;

He subsequently went on to admit that he was counting on Kohli to make his way back to his former glory, which he seems like he has as the former Indian skipper managed to record his first international ton against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/experiment-in-bilateral-series-not-asia-cup-former-world-cup-winner-after-indias-dismal-show-514897" hreflang="en">Experiment in bilateral series not Asia Cup: Former World Cup-winner after India's dismal show</a>

“Let him practice, let him play matches. He is a big player and has scored plenty of runs. I am hopeful that he will make a comeback. He is just not being able to score a century and I believe he will find his form in the Asia Cup,” said Ganguly.

Having recorded the international century that had remained extremely elusive for over 1000 days, Virat Kohli will hope to carry the same form into his upcoming outings alongside the Men in Blue.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently offered fans insight into his take on Virat Kohli's athletic prowess and prospects on the field. Ganguly waxed lyrical about Kohli in a recently surfaced video on YouTube.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently offered fans insight into his take on Virat Kohli's athletic prowess and prospects on the field. Ganguly waxed lyrical about Kohli in a recently surfaced video on YouTube. He admitted that even though they had competed on the field in different generations, Kohli had the makings of surpassing Ganguly owing to his unique set of skills. Ganguly also admitted that although he had featured in more matches than Kohli over the course of his lengthy career, the 33-year-old is well on his way to overcome him in that regard. ALSO READ: Others wouldn't have survived: Gautam Gambhir on Virat Kohli being in Indian team for 3 years without a ton “The comparison should be in terms of skill as a player. I think he is more skilful than I’m. We played in different generations, and we played a lot of cricket." "I played in my generation, and he will continue playing, probably playing more games than I did. Currently, I have played more than what he has but he’ll get past that. He is tremendous.” He subsequently went on to admit that he was counting on Kohli to make his way back to his former glory, which he seems like he has as the former Indian skipper managed to record his first international ton against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. ALSO READ: Experiment in bilateral series not Asia Cup: Former World Cup-winner after India's dismal show “Let him practice, let him play matches. He is a big player and has scored plenty of runs. I am hopeful that he will make a comeback. He is just not being able to score a century and I believe he will find his form in the Asia Cup,” said Ganguly. Having recorded the international century that had remained extremely elusive for over 1000 days, Virat Kohli will hope to carry the same form into his upcoming outings alongside the Men in Blue.

‘He is more skilful’- Sourav Ganguly rates Virat Kohli higher than himself

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri lauded Virat Kohli and said the batting maestro will be feeling much lighter after bringing an end to his long-standing century drought against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday. Kohli brought an end to a wait of 1020 days to notch up his 71st century in international cricket.

It was brilliant knock from the former India captain, who had headed into the tournament amid massive criticism over his lean patch. Kohli seemed to have found his lost mojo in the tournament as he scored runs consistently before shattering his century drought against Afghanistan on Thursday.

It was a brilliant knock of 122 runs off 61 balls for Kohli as he slammed his maiden hundred in T20Is and set up a comfortable 101-run win for India. Even though, Kohli never spoke about his century drought bothering him, Shastri said the India batter would be feeling five kilos lighter as the monkey is off his back now.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/this-is-crunch-time-for-rahul-dravid-ex-bcci-selector-after-indias-disappointing-exit-from-asia-cup-2022-514825">This is crunch time for Rahul Dravid: Ex-BCCI selector after India's disappointing exit from Asia Cup 2022</a>

"You mentioned 1020 days, I can say 700 days I was in that dressing room when that happened. It's a long time. The monkey is off his back now. When you had astounding success like he has, when 70 hundreds come like this, then you go through a patch of one, two years, two-and-half years, two-and-three quarter years, and then everyday people start reminding - 'It's been that long'. He is human. It would have been eating him up. He would be getting up every morning, whether thinking of it or not, subconsciously being reminded," Shastri said on Star Sports.

"Today, I think he will be five kilos less. Don't ask me where the weight has gone from, five kilos less at least from the head. You could see from the last 40 runs of his innings. It was Virat Kohli. His trade mark shots, the confidence, the poise, the utter disdain for bowling is back. It took a long time coming," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unhappy-bcci-admonish-ravindra-jadeja-for-irresponsibility-towards-fitness-and-health-ahead-of-world-cup-514738">'Unhappy' BCCI admonish Ravindra Jadeja for irresponsibility towards fitness and health ahead of World Cup</a>

Kohli seems to have now rediscovered his form and will be keen to continue his purple patch in India's upcoming assignments ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year. His return to form is crucial for India's chances in the tournament as Kohli is expected to play a big role for India in the World Cup Down Under.

Kohli has now joined the legendary Ricky Ponting on the second spot in the list of batters with most centuries in international cricket. He is only behind batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who remains the only man to have slammed 100 centuries in international cricket. 
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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri lauded Virat Kohli and said the batting maestro will be feeling much lighter after bringing an end to his long-standing century drought against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri lauded Virat Kohli and said the batting maestro will be feeling much lighter after bringing an end to his long-standing century drought against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday. Kohli brought an end to a wait of 1020 days to notch up his 71st century in international cricket. It was brilliant knock from the former India captain, who had headed into the tournament amid massive criticism over his lean patch. Kohli seemed to have found his lost mojo in the tournament as he scored runs consistently before shattering his century drought against Afghanistan on Thursday. It was a brilliant knock of 122 runs off 61 balls for Kohli as he slammed his maiden hundred in T20Is and set up a comfortable 101-run win for India. Even though, Kohli never spoke about his century drought bothering him, Shastri said the India batter would be feeling five kilos lighter as the monkey is off his back now. Also Read: This is crunch time for Rahul Dravid: Ex-BCCI selector after India's disappointing exit from Asia Cup 2022 "You mentioned 1020 days, I can say 700 days I was in that dressing room when that happened. It's a long time. The monkey is off his back now. When you had astounding success like he has, when 70 hundreds come like this, then you go through a patch of one, two years, two-and-half years, two-and-three quarter years, and then everyday people start reminding - 'It's been that long'. He is human. It would have been eating him up. He would be getting up every morning, whether thinking of it or not, subconsciously being reminded," Shastri said on Star Sports. "Today, I think he will be five kilos less. Don't ask me where the weight has gone from, five kilos less at least from the head. You could see from the last 40 runs of his innings. It was Virat Kohli. His trade mark shots, the confidence, the poise, the utter disdain for bowling is back. It took a long time coming," he added. Also Read: 'Unhappy' BCCI admonish Ravindra Jadeja for irresponsibility towards fitness and health ahead of World Cup Kohli seems to have now rediscovered his form and will be keen to continue his purple patch in India's upcoming assignments ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year. His return to form is crucial for India's chances in the tournament as Kohli is expected to play a big role for India in the World Cup Down Under. Kohli has now joined the legendary Ricky Ponting on the second spot in the list of batters with most centuries in international cricket. He is only behind batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who remains the only man to have slammed 100 centuries in international cricket.

Virat Kohli will be five kilos less: Ravi Shastri lauds India batter after his 71st international century

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes no one would have survived for three years in the Indian crickt team without a century in international cricket. Gambhir believes Kohli got a long rope despite not scoring a hundred for over 1,000 days but no other batter would have earned that luxury.

Kohli, who brought an end to his long-standing century drought on Thursday, had scored his last ton for India in November 2019. He went without scoring a century for a staggering 1020 days between November 2019 to September 2022 before finnaly ending the drought with a stunning 122-run knock against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022 earlier this week.

Kohli's lean patch with the willow saw him face crictisim from all corners in the build up to the Asia Cup with many also questioining his spot in the India's T20I squad. However, he had the continuous backing of the team management despite not delivering consistently.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-will-be-five-kilos-less-ravi-shastri-lauds-india-batter-after-his-71st-international-century-514847">Virat Kohli will be five kilos less: Ravi Shastri lauds India batter after his 71st international century</a>

"You have to realise that it is three years, not three months. Three years is a very long time. And I'm not trying to be critical of him, but he has earned that just because he has got loads of runs in the past. But I don't think so that any of the younger batters would have survived in international cricket had they not got a hundred in last three years," Gambhir said on Star Sports.

The former India opener cited the example of the likes of current skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and R Ashwin among others who have all been droped under Kohli's captaincy in the past for not performing consistently. Gambhir believes only Kohli could have survived without a century for three years as he has earned that cushion with his past performances.

"Eventually it had to happen and it happened at the right time as well. You are just approaching the T20 World Cup and he's got a hundred so he has got the monkey off his back. But let's be fair and absolutely honest, I don't think any one in the dressing room would have survived three years without a hundred," said Gambhir.

People like Ashwin, Rahane, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have been dropped. I don't know one guy who hasn't been dropped after not having scored a hundred in three years. It is only Virat Kohli and probably he has earned that," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/this-is-crunch-time-for-rahul-dravid-ex-bcci-selector-after-indias-disappointing-exit-from-asia-cup-2022-514825">This is crunch time for Rahul Dravid: Ex-BCCI selector after India's disappointing exit from Asia Cup 2022</a>

Kohli brought an end to a long wait for his 71st hundred in style with a magnificent knock against Afghanistan. He scored 122 off 61 balls laced with 12 fours and two sixes. It was Kohli's maiden ton in T20Is as he registered the highest score by an Indian batter in the shortest format to power India to a 101-run victory in the game.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes no one would have survived for three years in the Indian crickt team without a century in international cricket. Gambhir believes Kohli got a long rope despite not scoring a hundred for over 1,000 days but no other batter would have earned that luxury.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes no one would have survived for three years in the Indian crickt team without a century in international cricket. Gambhir believes Kohli got a long rope despite not scoring a hundred for over 1,000 days but no other batter would have earned that luxury. Kohli, who brought an end to his long-standing century drought on Thursday, had scored his last ton for India in November 2019. He went without scoring a century for a staggering 1020 days between November 2019 to September 2022 before finnaly ending the drought with a stunning 122-run knock against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022 earlier this week. Kohli's lean patch with the willow saw him face crictisim from all corners in the build up to the Asia Cup with many also questioining his spot in the India's T20I squad. However, he had the continuous backing of the team management despite not delivering consistently. Also Read: Virat Kohli will be five kilos less: Ravi Shastri lauds India batter after his 71st international century "You have to realise that it is three years, not three months. Three years is a very long time. And I'm not trying to be critical of him, but he has earned that just because he has got loads of runs in the past. But I don't think so that any of the younger batters would have survived in international cricket had they not got a hundred in last three years," Gambhir said on Star Sports. The former India opener cited the example of the likes of current skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and R Ashwin among others who have all been droped under Kohli's captaincy in the past for not performing consistently. Gambhir believes only Kohli could have survived without a century for three years as he has earned that cushion with his past performances. "Eventually it had to happen and it happened at the right time as well. You are just approaching the T20 World Cup and he's got a hundred so he has got the monkey off his back. But let's be fair and absolutely honest, I don't think any one in the dressing room would have survived three years without a hundred," said Gambhir. People like Ashwin, Rahane, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have been dropped. I don't know one guy who hasn't been dropped after not having scored a hundred in three years. It is only Virat Kohli and probably he has earned that," he added. Also Read: This is crunch time for Rahul Dravid: Ex-BCCI selector after India's disappointing exit from Asia Cup 2022 Kohli brought an end to a long wait for his 71st hundred in style with a magnificent knock against Afghanistan. He scored 122 off 61 balls laced with 12 fours and two sixes. It was Kohli's maiden ton in T20Is as he registered the highest score by an Indian batter in the shortest format to power India to a 101-run victory in the game.

Others wouldn't have survived: Gautam Gambhir on Virat Kohli being in Indian team for 3 years without a ton

Virat Kohli ended his international drought on Thursday (September 8) as India faced Afghanistan in their last Super Four clash before bowing out of the Asia Cup 2022 edition. Bing asked to bat first, a Rohit Sharma-less Indian team rode on Kohli's 122 not out (off 61 balls), who opened the innings with stand-in captain KL Rahul, to post a mammoth 212-3.

In reply, Afghanistan fell like nine pins in the run-chase by being restricted to 111/8 in 20 overs to lose by a whopping 101-run margin. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned with 5 for 4 in his full quota of overs to stand tall but the Player-of-the-Match Kohli generated maximum eyeballs. Kohli's innings was laced with 12 fours and 6 sixes and his return to form is a huge blessing for Rohit &amp; Co. heading into the 2022 T20 World Cup, from October-November in Australia. The 33-year-old Kohli's hundred is a huge sigh of relief for many Indian cricket fans, worldwide, who have been eagerly waiting for King Kohli to move past his ordinary run of form.

As soon as Kohli smacked an impressive pull over the fence to reach triple figures, the crowd -- at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai -- were sent into a frenzy. An elderly fan's unmissable reaction, present in the stands, went viral in no time as Kohli raised his bat and acknowledged the crowd after reaching his 71st international ton. Here's the video of the elderly fan bowing down to the Indian star batter:

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Missed this <a href="https://t.co/LHjQhhQQSm">pic.twitter.com/LHjQhhQQSm</a>
— Ali (@stuckon70) <a href="https://twitter.com/stuckon70/status/1567899011109060608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/your-form-is-very-critical-rohit-sharma-tells-virat-kohli-as-duo-interact-post-latters-71st-intl-ton-514536">'Your form is very critical' - Rohit Sharma tells Virat Kohli as duo interact post latter's 71st int'l ton</a>

With his recent ton over Afghanistan, Kohli equalled with Australia's former captain Ricky Ponting in terms of second-most international tons overall. Here's the top five in the elite feat:

Sachin Tendulkar - 100

Virat Kohli - 71*

Ricky Ponting - 71

Kumar Sangakkara - 63

Jacques Kallis - 62

At the post-match presentation, a content Kohli said, "Firstly I am grateful for how the day went today. Time away from the game gave me a good chance to sit back and observe a lot of things about me. I mentioned one special person - Anushka - who stood by me through these tough times and I mentioned her as she has seen the absolute raw side of me throughout all these months. She was the one putting things in perspective for me, kept giving me the right kind of guidance, vision moving forward and I came back into the system as a relaxed person. It was just about enjoying the game, understanding the game and what God blessed you with. Today was the build-up of the last few games, I batted out of my skin to be honest and I surprised myself. What surprised me was my 60s became failures; quite shocking for me, batting pretty well and contributing but doesn't seem to be enough. I can't really pinpoint anything to anyone as I said God has blessed me with good things in the past and that's why I am in this position where these things can be spoken about."

Virat Kohli ended his international drought on Thursday (September 8) as India faced Afghanistan in their last Super Four clash before bowing out of the Asia Cup 2022 edition.

Virat Kohli ended his international drought on Thursday (September 8) as India faced Afghanistan in their last Super Four clash before bowing out of the Asia Cup 2022 edition. Bing asked to bat first, a Rohit Sharma-less Indian team rode on Kohli's 122 not out (off 61 balls), who opened the innings with stand-in captain KL Rahul, to post a mammoth 212-3. In reply, Afghanistan fell like nine pins in the run-chase by being restricted to 111/8 in 20 overs to lose by a whopping 101-run margin. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned with 5 for 4 in his full quota of overs to stand tall but the Player-of-the-Match Kohli generated maximum eyeballs. Kohli's innings was laced with 12 fours and 6 sixes and his return to form is a huge blessing for Rohit & Co. heading into the 2022 T20 World Cup, from October-November in Australia. The 33-year-old Kohli's hundred is a huge sigh of relief for many Indian cricket fans, worldwide, who have been eagerly waiting for King Kohli to move past his ordinary run of form. As soon as Kohli smacked an impressive pull over the fence to reach triple figures, the crowd -- at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai -- were sent into a frenzy. An elderly fan's unmissable reaction, present in the stands, went viral in no time as Kohli raised his bat and acknowledged the crowd after reaching his 71st international ton. Here's the video of the elderly fan bowing down to the Indian star batter: Missed this pic.twitter.com/LHjQhhQQSm — Ali (@stuckon70) September 8, 2022 × ALSO READ | 'Your form is very critical' - Rohit Sharma tells Virat Kohli as duo interact post latter's 71st int'l ton With his recent ton over Afghanistan, Kohli equalled with Australia's former captain Ricky Ponting in terms of second-most international tons overall. Here's the top five in the elite feat: Sachin Tendulkar - 100 Virat Kohli - 71* Ricky Ponting - 71 Kumar Sangakkara - 63 Jacques Kallis - 62 At the post-match presentation, a content Kohli said, "Firstly I am grateful for how the day went today. Time away from the game gave me a good chance to sit back and observe a lot of things about me. I mentioned one special person - Anushka - who stood by me through these tough times and I mentioned her as she has seen the absolute raw side of me throughout all these months. She was the one putting things in perspective for me, kept giving me the right kind of guidance, vision moving forward and I came back into the system as a relaxed person. It was just about enjoying the game, understanding the game and what God blessed you with. Today was the build-up of the last few games, I batted out of my skin to be honest and I surprised myself. What surprised me was my 60s became failures; quite shocking for me, batting pretty well and contributing but doesn't seem to be enough. I can't really pinpoint anything to anyone as I said God has blessed me with good things in the past and that's why I am in this position where these things can be spoken about."

VIRAL: Elderly fan bows down to Virat Kohli as he slams 71st int'l ton in India-Afghanistan tie - WATCH

Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday (September 8). At the age of 96, The Queen breathed her last with her health worsening in the recent past. She had already cut down on her public appearances to a great extent and is now survived by four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The Queen -- UK's longest-serving monarch -- has left a huge legacy that will last forever.&nbsp;

The Queen was a sports fanatic and loved horse racing but also took a keen interest in various other sports. Ahead of the 2019 ODI World Cup, held in England and Wales, all the participating teams' captains met The Queen and&nbsp;Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace in London. The images of the star-studded meeting went viral in no time and were shared on social media platforms.&nbsp;

Here's a throwback to the pictures where The Queen met Virat Kohli and the likes:

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The 10 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> Captains with the Queen. <a href="https://t.co/cT42NfuPCv">pic.twitter.com/cT42NfuPCv</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1133783155574550529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Skipper meets the Queen <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ch2jcv5mTj">pic.twitter.com/Ch2jcv5mTj</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1133782516731699205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The tournament will feature the world’s top ten teams, nine of whom are from the Commonwealth: Australia 🇦🇺, Bangladesh 🇧🇩, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, India 🇮🇳, New Zealand🇳🇿, Pakistan🇵🇰, South Africa 🇿🇦, Sri Lanka🇱🇰 and the West Indies 🇧🇸 🇧🇧 🇨🇺 🇯🇲 🇭🇹 🇩🇲 🇵🇷 🇬🇾 🇸🇷 🇹🇹. <a href="https://t.co/zVVAxlkvtv">pic.twitter.com/zVVAxlkvtv</a>
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1133764146657398784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Captains including <a href="https://twitter.com/Eoin16?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eoin16</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> met Her Majesty and His Royal Highness before joining a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. <a href="https://t.co/AjS5eZBrVH">pic.twitter.com/AjS5eZBrVH</a>
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1133764856178446336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/this-legacy-will-last-forever-sports-fraternity-pays-tribute-to-queen-elizabeth-ii-after-her-passing-away-514433">'This legacy will last forever' - Sports fraternity pays tributes to Queen Elizabeth II after her passing away</a>

Many sporting activities have been shut post the passing away of The Queen. The weekend fixtures of the Premier League now stand postponed whereas&nbsp;matches in the domestic Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy were called off. As a mark of respect, a minute's silence was also observed during the UEFA Europa League fixtures between Arsenal-FC Zurich and Manchester United-Real Sociedad.

Following Queen Elizabeth's demise, a statement from King Charles III read, "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held,” it added.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday (September 8). At the age of 96, The Queen breathed her last with her health worsening in the recent past. She had already cut down on her public appearances to a great extent and is now survived by four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday (September 8). At the age of 96, The Queen breathed her last with her health worsening in the recent past. She had already cut down on her public appearances to a great extent and is now survived by four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The Queen -- UK's longest-serving monarch -- has left a huge legacy that will last forever. The Queen was a sports fanatic and loved horse racing but also took a keen interest in various other sports. Ahead of the 2019 ODI World Cup, held in England and Wales, all the participating teams' captains met The Queen and Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace in London. The images of the star-studded meeting went viral in no time and were shared on social media platforms. Here's a throwback to the pictures where The Queen met Virat Kohli and the likes: The 10 #CWC19 Captains with the Queen. pic.twitter.com/cT42NfuPCv — BCCI (@BCCI) May 29, 2019 × Skipper meets the Queen #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/Ch2jcv5mTj — BCCI (@BCCI) May 29, 2019 × The tournament will feature the world’s top ten teams, nine of whom are from the Commonwealth: Australia 🇦🇺, Bangladesh 🇧🇩, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, India 🇮🇳, New Zealand🇳🇿, Pakistan🇵🇰, South Africa 🇿🇦, Sri Lanka🇱🇰 and the West Indies 🇧🇸 🇧🇧 🇨🇺 🇯🇲 🇭🇹 🇩🇲 🇵🇷 🇬🇾 🇸🇷 🇹🇹. pic.twitter.com/zVVAxlkvtv — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 29, 2019 × Captains including @Eoin16 and @imVkohli met Her Majesty and His Royal Highness before joining a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. pic.twitter.com/AjS5eZBrVH — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 29, 2019 × ALSO READ | 'This legacy will last forever' - Sports fraternity pays tributes to Queen Elizabeth II after her passing away Many sporting activities have been shut post the passing away of The Queen. The weekend fixtures of the Premier League now stand postponed whereas matches in the domestic Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy were called off. As a mark of respect, a minute's silence was also observed during the UEFA Europa League fixtures between Arsenal-FC Zurich and Manchester United-Real Sociedad. Following Queen Elizabeth's demise, a statement from King Charles III read, "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held,” it added.

Throwback: When Queen Elizabeth II met Virat Kohli and other captains ahead of 2019 ODI World Cup

India ended their Asia Cup 2022 campaign with a big win over Afghanistan on Thursday evening (September 8). The biggest takeaway from India's consolation win was Virat Kohli's much-awaited 71st international century as the former skipper slammed a mouth-watering 61-ball 122 not out, laced with 12 fours and 6 sixes at a whopping strike-rate of 200.

Kohli hadn't scored a century across formats since late 2019. Since then, he contributed with a lot of crucial knocks but failed to get to the triple-figure mark. Against Afghanistan, India's star batter Virat went all-out, after settling in, as he opened the innings with stand-in captain KL Rahul in Rohit Sharma's absence. With his ton, the whole of India breathed a sigh of relief despite the national side's forgettable Asia Cup campaign. Rohit &amp; Co. will now hope for Kohli to continue in a similar stead and go bonkers in the T20 World Cup 2022 edition, from October-November in Australia.

After mauling Afghanistan, Indian captain Rohit and Virat got together for a special interaction, on BCCI tv, where Hitman told his predecessor that his 'form is very critical to Team India'.&nbsp;

When Rohit asked about his brilliant ton, Kohli said,&nbsp;&nbsp;"I did not expect this. Even you mentioned after the match that nobody would have expected me to score a century, especially in this format. I am pleasantly surprised and I am grateful and honoured right now." Later in the chat, Rohit told, "Your form is very critical to our team. We all understand that. And also, you being around certain guys, does help a lot as well."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-led-team-indias-t20-world-cup-squad-likely-to-be-announced-on-september-16-report-514475">Rohit Sharma-led Team India's T20 World Cup squad likely to be announced on September 16: Report</a>

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What happens when <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRo45?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImRo45</a> interviews <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> ☺️ 👏 
 
Laughs, mutual admiration &amp; a lot of respect 😎- by <a href="https://twitter.com/ameyatilak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ameyatilak</a> 
 
Full interview 📽️<a href="https://t.co/8bVUaa0pUw">https://t.co/8bVUaa0pUw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvAFG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAFG</a> <a href="https://t.co/GkdPr9crLh">pic.twitter.com/GkdPr9crLh</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1568097031281065985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/because-we-lost-few-games-doesnt-mean-were-a-terrible-team-rahul-dravid-defends-under-fire-team-india-514502">'Because we lost few games, doesn't mean we're a terrible team'- Rahul Dravid defends under-fire Team India</a>

Kohli further highlighted the team goal and added, "It was a very special day for us as a team. After the last game, we had spoken about the kind of attitude with which we need to play this match. This was an important tournament for us. We got the exposure of knockout matches, we got the exposure of facing pressure situations. But we know what's our main goal, which is the World Cup in Australia and we all are improving in several areas for the same. We will learn from our mistakes from the matches which didn't go well for us."

India will now shift their focus to hosting Australia and later South Africa, in white-ball series, where they will look to iron out their flaws ahead of the T20 WC Down Under.

India ended their Asia Cup 2022 campaign with a big win over Afghanistan on Thursday evening (September 8). The biggest takeaway from India's consolation win was Virat Kohli's much-awaited 71st international century as the former skipper slammed a mouth-watering 61-ball 122 not out, laced with 12 fours and 6 sixes at a whopping strike-rate of 200.

India ended their Asia Cup 2022 campaign with a big win over Afghanistan on Thursday evening (September 8). The biggest takeaway from India's consolation win was Virat Kohli's much-awaited 71st international century as the former skipper slammed a mouth-watering 61-ball 122 not out, laced with 12 fours and 6 sixes at a whopping strike-rate of 200. Kohli hadn't scored a century across formats since late 2019. Since then, he contributed with a lot of crucial knocks but failed to get to the triple-figure mark. Against Afghanistan, India's star batter Virat went all-out, after settling in, as he opened the innings with stand-in captain KL Rahul in Rohit Sharma's absence. With his ton, the whole of India breathed a sigh of relief despite the national side's forgettable Asia Cup campaign. Rohit & Co. will now hope for Kohli to continue in a similar stead and go bonkers in the T20 World Cup 2022 edition, from October-November in Australia. After mauling Afghanistan, Indian captain Rohit and Virat got together for a special interaction, on BCCI tv, where Hitman told his predecessor that his 'form is very critical to Team India'. When Rohit asked about his brilliant ton, Kohli said, "I did not expect this. Even you mentioned after the match that nobody would have expected me to score a century, especially in this format. I am pleasantly surprised and I am grateful and honoured right now." Later in the chat, Rohit told, "Your form is very critical to our team. We all understand that. And also, you being around certain guys, does help a lot as well." ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma-led Team India's T20 World Cup squad likely to be announced on September 16: Report What happens when @ImRo45 interviews @imVkohli ☺️ 👏 Laughs, mutual admiration & a lot of respect 😎- by @ameyatilak Full interview 📽️https://t.co/8bVUaa0pUw #TeamIndia | #AsiaCup2022 | #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/GkdPr9crLh — BCCI (@BCCI) September 9, 2022 × ALSO READ | 'Because we lost few games, doesn't mean we're a terrible team'- Rahul Dravid defends under-fire Team India Kohli further highlighted the team goal and added, "It was a very special day for us as a team. After the last game, we had spoken about the kind of attitude with which we need to play this match. This was an important tournament for us. We got the exposure of knockout matches, we got the exposure of facing pressure situations. But we know what's our main goal, which is the World Cup in Australia and we all are improving in several areas for the same. We will learn from our mistakes from the matches which didn't go well for us." India will now shift their focus to hosting Australia and later South Africa, in white-ball series, where they will look to iron out their flaws ahead of the T20 WC Down Under.

'Your form is very critical' - Rohit Sharma tells Virat Kohli as duo interact post latter's 71st int'l ton

After a forgettable run at the Asia Cup, India will look to amend their mistakes ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia from October-November. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the squad for the showpiece event sooner than later as many cricket boards have already announced their respective squads.&nbsp;

As per a report in the Times of India (TOI), the Indian team's squad for the upcoming ICC event is likely to be announced on September 16. Jasprit Bumrah's fitness is reportedly a reason behind the delay in squad announcement as the premier pacer is in rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru after missing out on the Asia Cup due to a back injury. Moreover, Harshal Patel is also working on his fitness after not being part of the Rohit Sharma-led national side in the Asia Cup where the Men in Blue failed to make it to the final.

Thus, Bumrah's fitness is eagerly awaited by the BCCI before announcing the squad of the one-time winners heading into the T20 WC Down Under. With the marquee tournament just over a month away, the BCCI selectors are still not worried about Bumrah's fitness as he is expected to be deemed fit.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-better-option-than-md-shami-irfan-pathan-on-how-india-can-fix-bowling-woes-ahead-of-t20-world-cup-513817">No better option than Md. Shami: Irfan Pathan on how India can fix bowling woes ahead of T20 World Cup</a>

“Bumrah has not been declared fit yet. He is going to be at the NCA this week before the selection. The World Cup is still over a month away. Therefore, his selection will happen considering that,” a BCCI source told TOI. Given India's ordinary bowling performances in the continental tournament, being held in the UAE, India will be desperate to regain the services of both Bumrah and Harshal. Many are also discussing Mohammed Shami's inclusion despite the senior pacer having not played a single T20I since last year's World Cup in the UAE.&nbsp;

Given Shami's experience, good run in IPL 2022 and the the current Indian bowling line-up lagging behind, the 32-year-old might be roped in. After bowing out of the Asia Cup, India will host Australia followed by South Africa in T20I series before boarding the flight to Australia. It will be interesting to see what all changes the Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team management makes for the mega event.

India had failed to go past the Super 12 round in last year's T20 WC. Will the script change this time around for the Men in Blue? Only time will tell...

After a forgettable run at the Asia Cup, India will look to amend their mistakes ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia from October-November. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the squad for the showpiece event sooner than later as many cricket boards have already announced their respective squads.

After a forgettable run at the Asia Cup, India will look to amend their mistakes ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia from October-November. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the squad for the showpiece event sooner than later as many cricket boards have already announced their respective squads. As per a report in the Times of India (TOI), the Indian team's squad for the upcoming ICC event is likely to be announced on September 16. Jasprit Bumrah's fitness is reportedly a reason behind the delay in squad announcement as the premier pacer is in rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru after missing out on the Asia Cup due to a back injury. Moreover, Harshal Patel is also working on his fitness after not being part of the Rohit Sharma-led national side in the Asia Cup where the Men in Blue failed to make it to the final. Thus, Bumrah's fitness is eagerly awaited by the BCCI before announcing the squad of the one-time winners heading into the T20 WC Down Under. With the marquee tournament just over a month away, the BCCI selectors are still not worried about Bumrah's fitness as he is expected to be deemed fit. ALSO READ | No better option than Md. Shami: Irfan Pathan on how India can fix bowling woes ahead of T20 World Cup “Bumrah has not been declared fit yet. He is going to be at the NCA this week before the selection. The World Cup is still over a month away. Therefore, his selection will happen considering that,” a BCCI source told TOI. Given India's ordinary bowling performances in the continental tournament, being held in the UAE, India will be desperate to regain the services of both Bumrah and Harshal. Many are also discussing Mohammed Shami's inclusion despite the senior pacer having not played a single T20I since last year's World Cup in the UAE. Given Shami's experience, good run in IPL 2022 and the the current Indian bowling line-up lagging behind, the 32-year-old might be roped in. After bowing out of the Asia Cup, India will host Australia followed by South Africa in T20I series before boarding the flight to Australia. It will be interesting to see what all changes the Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team management makes for the mega event. India had failed to go past the Super 12 round in last year's T20 WC. Will the script change this time around for the Men in Blue? Only time will tell...

Rohit Sharma-led Team India's T20 World Cup squad likely to be announced on September 16: Report

After hitting his much anticipated 71st century in international cricket, star Indian batter Virat Kohli dedicated his ton to his wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and their daughter.

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and powered India to a massive 212/2 in their 20 overs during their last Super Four clash against Afghanistan at the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday.

"Last two and a half years have taught me a lot. I am going to turn 34 in a month. So those angry celebrations are a thing of the past. Actually, I was shocked. This is the last format I thought.

"It was an accumulation of a lot of things. The team has been open and helpful. I know there was a lot of stuff going outside," said Virat after his innings to broadcasters."And I kissed my ring. You see me standing here because one person has put things in perspective for me. That`s Anushka. This hundred is for her and for our little daughter Vamika as well.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2022-virat-kohli-becomes-only-second-indian-player-to-smash-100-t20i-sixes-514227" hreflang="en">Asia Cup 2022: Virat Kohli becomes only second Indian player to smash 100 T20I sixes</a>

"When you have someone next to you having conversations putting things in perspective, like Anushka has been... when I came back I was not desperate. Six weeks off I was refreshed. I realised how tired I was. Competitiveness doesn`t allow it, but this break allowed me enjoy the game again," he added.

Put to bat first by Afghanistan, openers KL Rahul and Virat Kohli got Team India off to a great start. The running between the wickets by the duo was good as usual. Openers really started to open their arms in the third over, with Virat smashing pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi for two fours.

From that point on, KL and Virat feasted on Afghan bowlers. Virat Kohli looked in really good touch and hit spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman for two fours and a six in the sixth over. At the end of six overs and the powerplay, India stood at 52/0, with Virat (25*) and Rahul (26*) unbeaten.

Virat and KL continued their domination over Afghanistan, even after the powerplay. The duo kept the scoreboard running at a good speed. At the end of 10 overs, India stood at 87/0, with Rahul (42*) and Virat (44*). Virat brought up his 33rd half-century in the format with a single.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2022-massive-fire-breaks-out-outside-the-dubai-international-stadium-ahead-of-india-vs-afghanistan-514179" hreflang="en">Asia Cup 2022: Massive fire breaks out outside the Dubai International Stadium ahead of India vs Afghanistan</a>

KL Rahul helped the team cross the 100-run mark with a four in 11.2 overs and scored another four on the next ball to bring up his fifty. Medium-pacer Fareed Malik ended the 119-run stand between the duo in the 13th over, dismissing Rahul for 62 off 41 balls after the batter was caught by Najibullah Zadran at long-on.

Suryakumar Yadav was next and he started his innings with a six on the very first ball, but Fareed got his wicket on the very next ball. Rishabh Pant was up on the crease. He continued to tick the scoreboard with Virat and took India into the final five without further damage. At the end of 15 overs, India was at 134/2, with Pant (6*) and Virat (59*).

Pant and Virat continued their assault on Afghanistan bowlers. Virat was the aggressor and mercilessly hit boundaries. With two overs to go, Pant-Virat brought up their 50-run stand. Virat also entered into the 90s. Finally, he completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and his first in T20Is.

India finished its innings at 212/2, with Virat Kohli (122*) and Rishabh Pant (20*). Fareed Malik took 2/57 for Afghanistan.

After hitting his much anticipated 71st century in international cricket, star Indian batter Virat Kohli dedicated his ton to his wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and their daughter.

After hitting his much anticipated 71st century in international cricket, star Indian batter Virat Kohli dedicated his ton to his wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and their daughter. Star Indian batter Virat Kohli completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and powered India to a massive 212/2 in their 20 overs during their last Super Four clash against Afghanistan at the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday. "Last two and a half years have taught me a lot. I am going to turn 34 in a month. So those angry celebrations are a thing of the past. Actually, I was shocked. This is the last format I thought. "It was an accumulation of a lot of things. The team has been open and helpful. I know there was a lot of stuff going outside," said Virat after his innings to broadcasters."And I kissed my ring. You see me standing here because one person has put things in perspective for me. That`s Anushka. This hundred is for her and for our little daughter Vamika as well. ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2022: Virat Kohli becomes only second Indian player to smash 100 T20I sixes "When you have someone next to you having conversations putting things in perspective, like Anushka has been... when I came back I was not desperate. Six weeks off I was refreshed. I realised how tired I was. Competitiveness doesn`t allow it, but this break allowed me enjoy the game again," he added. Put to bat first by Afghanistan, openers KL Rahul and Virat Kohli got Team India off to a great start. The running between the wickets by the duo was good as usual. Openers really started to open their arms in the third over, with Virat smashing pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi for two fours. From that point on, KL and Virat feasted on Afghan bowlers. Virat Kohli looked in really good touch and hit spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman for two fours and a six in the sixth over. At the end of six overs and the powerplay, India stood at 52/0, with Virat (25*) and Rahul (26*) unbeaten. Virat and KL continued their domination over Afghanistan, even after the powerplay. The duo kept the scoreboard running at a good speed. At the end of 10 overs, India stood at 87/0, with Rahul (42*) and Virat (44*). Virat brought up his 33rd half-century in the format with a single. ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2022: Massive fire breaks out outside the Dubai International Stadium ahead of India vs Afghanistan KL Rahul helped the team cross the 100-run mark with a four in 11.2 overs and scored another four on the next ball to bring up his fifty. Medium-pacer Fareed Malik ended the 119-run stand between the duo in the 13th over, dismissing Rahul for 62 off 41 balls after the batter was caught by Najibullah Zadran at long-on. Suryakumar Yadav was next and he started his innings with a six on the very first ball, but Fareed got his wicket on the very next ball. Rishabh Pant was up on the crease. He continued to tick the scoreboard with Virat and took India into the final five without further damage. At the end of 15 overs, India was at 134/2, with Pant (6*) and Virat (59*). Pant and Virat continued their assault on Afghanistan bowlers. Virat was the aggressor and mercilessly hit boundaries. With two overs to go, Pant-Virat brought up their 50-run stand. Virat also entered into the 90s. Finally, he completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and his first in T20Is. India finished its innings at 212/2, with Virat Kohli (122*) and Rishabh Pant (20*). Fareed Malik took 2/57 for Afghanistan.

Asia Cup 2022: Virat Kohli dedicates maiden T20I ton during IND vs AFG to wife Anushka and daughter Vamika

Virat Kohli on Thursday completed 100 sixes in T20I cricket, becoming the second Indian batter to hit a century of sixes and the tenth overall player to achieve this landmark. Virat accomplished this landmark during India`s final Super Four clash against Afghanistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.

Virat finally completed his much-anticipated 71st century. He smashed an unbeaten 122 in just 61 balls with 12 balls and six sixes. Now, Virat has a total of 104 sixes, which in the ninth-highest in T20I cricket. New Zealand`s Martin Guptill has the highest number of sixes in the format, with a total of 172 sixes.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-virat-kohli-finally-ends-century-drought-with-maiden-t20i-ton-in-afghanistan-clash-514206" hreflang="en">Asia Cup: Virat Kohli finally ends century drought with maiden T20I ton in Afghanistan clash</a>

He is followed by Rohit Sharma (171), Chris Gayle of West Indies (124), England`s Eoin Morgan (120) and Australian opener Aaron Finch (117). Coming to the match, Star Indian batter Virat Kohli completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and powered India to a massive 212/2 in their 20 overs during their last Super Four clash against Afghanistan at the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday.

Put to bat first by Afghanistan, openers KL Rahul and Virat Kohli got Team India off to a great start. The running between the wickets by the duo was good as usual. Openers really started to open their arms in the third over, with Virat smashing pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi for two fours.

From that point on, KL and Virat feasted on Afghan bowlers. Virat Kohli looked in really good touch and hit spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman for two fours and a six in the sixth over. At the end of six overs and the powerplay, India stood at 52/0, with Virat (25*) and Rahul (26*) unbeaten.

Virat and KL continued their domination over Afghanistan, even after the powerplay. The duo kept the scoreboard running at a good speed. At the end of 10 overs, India stood at 87/0, with Rahul (42*) and Virat (44*). Virat brought up his 33rd half-century in the format with a single.

KL Rahul helped the team cross the 100-run mark with a four in 11.2 overs and scored another four on the next ball to bring up his fifty. Medium-pacer Fareed Malik ended the 119-run stand between the duo in the 13th over, dismissing Rahul for 62 off 41 balls after the batter was caught by Najibullah Zadran at long-on.

Suryakumar Yadav was next and he started his innings with a six on the very first ball, but Fareed got his wicket on the very next ball. Rishabh Pant was up on the crease. He continued to tick the scoreboard with Virat and took India into the final five without further damage. At the end of 15 overs, India was at 134/2, with Pant (6*) and Virat (59*).

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2022-massive-fire-breaks-out-outside-the-dubai-international-stadium-ahead-of-india-vs-afghanistan-514179" hreflang="en">Asia Cup 2022: Massive fire breaks out outside the Dubai International Stadium ahead of India vs Afghanistan</a>

Pant and Virat continued their assault on Afghanistan bowlers. Virat was the aggressor and mercilessly hit boundaries. With two overs to go, Pant-Virat brought up their 50-run stand. Virat also entered into the 90s.

Finally, he completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and his first in T20Is. India finished its innings at 212/2, with Virat Kohli (122*) and Rishabh Pant (20*). Fareed Malik took 2/57 for Afghanistan.

Virat Kohli on Thursday completed 100 sixes in T20I cricket, becoming the second Indian batter to hit a century of sixes and the tenth overall player to achieve this landmark.

Virat Kohli on Thursday completed 100 sixes in T20I cricket, becoming the second Indian batter to hit a century of sixes and the tenth overall player to achieve this landmark. Virat accomplished this landmark during India`s final Super Four clash against Afghanistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022. Virat finally completed his much-anticipated 71st century. He smashed an unbeaten 122 in just 61 balls with 12 balls and six sixes. Now, Virat has a total of 104 sixes, which in the ninth-highest in T20I cricket. New Zealand`s Martin Guptill has the highest number of sixes in the format, with a total of 172 sixes. ALSO READ: Asia Cup: Virat Kohli finally ends century drought with maiden T20I ton in Afghanistan clash He is followed by Rohit Sharma (171), Chris Gayle of West Indies (124), England`s Eoin Morgan (120) and Australian opener Aaron Finch (117). Coming to the match, Star Indian batter Virat Kohli completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and powered India to a massive 212/2 in their 20 overs during their last Super Four clash against Afghanistan at the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday. Put to bat first by Afghanistan, openers KL Rahul and Virat Kohli got Team India off to a great start. The running between the wickets by the duo was good as usual. Openers really started to open their arms in the third over, with Virat smashing pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi for two fours. From that point on, KL and Virat feasted on Afghan bowlers. Virat Kohli looked in really good touch and hit spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman for two fours and a six in the sixth over. At the end of six overs and the powerplay, India stood at 52/0, with Virat (25*) and Rahul (26*) unbeaten. Virat and KL continued their domination over Afghanistan, even after the powerplay. The duo kept the scoreboard running at a good speed. At the end of 10 overs, India stood at 87/0, with Rahul (42*) and Virat (44*). Virat brought up his 33rd half-century in the format with a single. KL Rahul helped the team cross the 100-run mark with a four in 11.2 overs and scored another four on the next ball to bring up his fifty. Medium-pacer Fareed Malik ended the 119-run stand between the duo in the 13th over, dismissing Rahul for 62 off 41 balls after the batter was caught by Najibullah Zadran at long-on. Suryakumar Yadav was next and he started his innings with a six on the very first ball, but Fareed got his wicket on the very next ball. Rishabh Pant was up on the crease. He continued to tick the scoreboard with Virat and took India into the final five without further damage. At the end of 15 overs, India was at 134/2, with Pant (6*) and Virat (59*). ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2022: Massive fire breaks out outside the Dubai International Stadium ahead of India vs Afghanistan Pant and Virat continued their assault on Afghanistan bowlers. Virat was the aggressor and mercilessly hit boundaries. With two overs to go, Pant-Virat brought up their 50-run stand. Virat also entered into the 90s. Finally, he completed his much-anticipated 71st international century and his first in T20Is. India finished its innings at 212/2, with Virat Kohli (122*) and Rishabh Pant (20*). Fareed Malik took 2/57 for Afghanistan.

Asia Cup 2022: Virat Kohli becomes only second Indian player to smash 100 T20I sixes

Former India skipper Virat Kohli showed signs of having returned to his former self after he put up&nbsp;a highly anticipated century on the board in merely&nbsp;53 balls against Afghanistan towards the tail end of India's innings against them in the Super Fours of the Asia Cup.&nbsp;

With a series of back-to-back boundaries, Kohli stormed to a total of 122* runs off 61 balls. In addition to being his first century in international cricket since&nbsp;November 2019, his latest haul of runs also marked his maiden ton in the shortest format of the game.&nbsp;

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Virat Kohli an international century after 
1020 days 
2 years, 9 months, 16 days 
33 months, 16 days 
145 weeks and 5 days<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCupT20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCupT20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndvAfg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndvAfg</a>
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mohanstatsman/status/1567896824475979776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2022-massive-fire-breaks-out-outside-the-dubai-international-stadium-ahead-of-india-vs-afghanistan-514179" hreflang="en">Asia Cup 2022: Massive fire breaks out outside the Dubai International Stadium ahead of India vs Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;

With his jaw-dropping century at the Dubai International Stadium, Kohli bolstered India's charge against the Afghanis setting up a target of a whopping 213 for them to chase. Kohli had increasingly shown signs of his former glory since the start of India's Asia Cup campaign, scoring an impressive 59* against Hong Kong and 60 against Pakistan.&nbsp;

Up until the start of the Asia Cup, Kohli had found himself at the receiving end of a significant amount of flak, having gone over 1000 days without scoring an international century across formats. However, with his latest haul of runs, Kohli managed to shut his detractors down for good.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/visuals-were-gruesome-pcb-chairman-to-write-to-icc-to-complain-about-row-during-pakistan-vs-afghanistan-514134" hreflang="en">'Visuals were gruesome'- PCB chairman to write to ICC to complain about row during Pakistan vs Afghanistan</a>

The century could not have come at a better time as the Men in Blue inch closer to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Having tumbled out of contention for the Asia Cup title, Kohli's renewed vigour and resurgent form will work to reinforce the fans' faith in the team's prospects in the forthcoming World Cup.&nbsp;

Furthermore, it will most certainly have done wonders for Kohli's confidence and morale as he had been ruled out of active competition for a matter of months, citing mental health issues until before the start of the Asia Cup.

Former India skipper Virat Kohli showed signs of having returned to his former self after he put up a highly anticipated century on the board in merely 53 balls against Afghanistan towards the tail end of India's innings against them in the Super Fours of the Asia Cup.

Former India skipper Virat Kohli showed signs of having returned to his former self after he put up a highly anticipated century on the board in merely 53 balls against Afghanistan towards the tail end of India's innings against them in the Super Fours of the Asia Cup. With a series of back-to-back boundaries, Kohli stormed to a total of 122* runs off 61 balls. In addition to being his first century in international cricket since November 2019, his latest haul of runs also marked his maiden ton in the shortest format of the game. Virat Kohli an international century after 1020 days 2 years, 9 months, 16 days 33 months, 16 days 145 weeks and 5 days#AsiaCup2022 #AsiaCupT20 #AsiaCup2022 #IndvAfg — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 8, 2022 × ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2022: Massive fire breaks out outside the Dubai International Stadium ahead of India vs Afghanistan With his jaw-dropping century at the Dubai International Stadium, Kohli bolstered India's charge against the Afghanis setting up a target of a whopping 213 for them to chase. Kohli had increasingly shown signs of his former glory since the start of India's Asia Cup campaign, scoring an impressive 59* against Hong Kong and 60 against Pakistan. Up until the start of the Asia Cup, Kohli had found himself at the receiving end of a significant amount of flak, having gone over 1000 days without scoring an international century across formats. However, with his latest haul of runs, Kohli managed to shut his detractors down for good. ALSO READ: 'Visuals were gruesome'- PCB chairman to write to ICC to complain about row during Pakistan vs Afghanistan The century could not have come at a better time as the Men in Blue inch closer to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Having tumbled out of contention for the Asia Cup title, Kohli's renewed vigour and resurgent form will work to reinforce the fans' faith in the team's prospects in the forthcoming World Cup. Furthermore, it will most certainly have done wonders for Kohli's confidence and morale as he had been ruled out of active competition for a matter of months, citing mental health issues until before the start of the Asia Cup.

Asia Cup: Virat Kohli finally ends century drought with maiden T20I ton in Afghanistan clash

Naseem Shah's twin sixes in the last over of the Pakistan-Afghanistan clash led to Babar Azam &amp; Co.'s stunning one-wicket win in the Super Four clash of the Asia Cup on Wednesday evening (September 7) in Sharjah.&nbsp;

With this result, Pakistan secured a spot in the final where they will play Sri Lanka on September 11. On the other hand, Naseem's strikes eliminated both Afghanistan and India from the competition. Now, the two eliminated sides -- who topped their respective groups -- will lock horns in an inconsequential tie at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday evening (September 8).

Both India and Afghanistan have some glaring issues to address and they will be desperate to go past one another to sign off their forgettable Asia Cup campaign with a win.&nbsp;

Here is all you need to know about the India-Afghanistan&nbsp;Super 4 clash in Asia Cup 2022:

When will India face Afghanistan&nbsp;in Asia Cup 2022?

India will take on Afghanistan&nbsp;in their third and final Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday (September 08).

At what time will the Asia Cup 2022 clash between India and Afghanistan&nbsp;get underway?

The India-Afghanistan&nbsp;tie in Asia Cup 2022 will commence&nbsp;at 7:30 PM IST.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-this-is-a-question-out-of-my-book-ravindra-jadeja-on-rishabh-pants-absence-from-pakistan-clash-511703">WATCH: 'This is a question out of my book' - Ravindra Jadeja on Rishabh Pant's absence from Pakistan clash</a>

How to watch the Asia Cup 2022 clash between India and Afghanistan?

Star Sports will broadcast the&nbsp;clash in India and the live streaming will be available on the Hotstar app and website.

Naseem Shah's twin sixes in the last over of the Pakistan-Afghanistan clash led to Babar Azam & Co.'s stunning one-wicket win in the Super Four clash of the Asia Cup on Wednesday evening (September 7) in Sharjah.

Naseem Shah's twin sixes in the last over of the Pakistan-Afghanistan clash led to Babar Azam & Co.'s stunning one-wicket win in the Super Four clash of the Asia Cup on Wednesday evening (September 7) in Sharjah. With this result, Pakistan secured a spot in the final where they will play Sri Lanka on September 11. On the other hand, Naseem's strikes eliminated both Afghanistan and India from the competition. Now, the two eliminated sides -- who topped their respective groups -- will lock horns in an inconsequential tie at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday evening (September 8). Both India and Afghanistan have some glaring issues to address and they will be desperate to go past one another to sign off their forgettable Asia Cup campaign with a win. Here is all you need to know about the India-Afghanistan Super 4 clash in Asia Cup 2022: When will India face Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022? India will take on Afghanistan in their third and final Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 on Thursday (September 08). At what time will the Asia Cup 2022 clash between India and Afghanistan get underway? The India-Afghanistan tie in Asia Cup 2022 will commence at 7:30 PM IST. ALSO READ | WATCH: 'This is a question out of my book' - Ravindra Jadeja on Rishabh Pant's absence from Pakistan clash How to watch the Asia Cup 2022 clash between India and Afghanistan? Star Sports will broadcast the clash in India and the live streaming will be available on the Hotstar app and website.

Asia Cup 2022, IND vs Afg live streaming: When and where to watch India vs Afghanistan Super 4 match?

Can India still qualify for Asia Cup 2022 final? Here are all scenarios explained

Rohit Sharma-led India went down to Sri Lanka by six wickets in defence of 173/8 in the Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition, on Tuesday (September 06) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. After losing to Pakistan, India were in a must-win position versus Sri Lanka but the Dasun Shanaka-led side punched above their weight to push India closer to elimination.

Being asked to bat first, India rode on Rohit's 72 and Suryakumar Yadav's 34 to post a competitive score. However, they fell short of posting anything near 200 given the platform set by Hitman. In reply, Pathum Nissanka-Kusal Mendis' fifties and finishing cameos from Shanaka-Bhanuka Rajapaksa propelled the Islanders to a stunning six-wicket win on the penultimate ball.

With the Men in Blue almost on the verge of an early exit, T20 World Cup winner Robin Uthappa opined on the national side's struggles at the continental tournament. "India are trying too many things, trying to fix something that is not broken. They have overthought this. Be as aggressive as you want, but if you do not have wickets at the back end, you are always going to be under the pump," Uthappa said on&nbsp;ESPNCricinfo.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-rishabh-pants-reaction-to-hardik-pandyas-batting-promotion-in-asia-cup-tie-goes-viral-watch-513695">Ind vs SL: Rishabh Pant's reaction to Hardik Pandya's batting promotion in Asia Cup tie goes viral - WATCH</a>

At the post-match presentation, Rohit said, "We just ended up on the wrong side, as simple as that. We could have capitalized on the first half of our innings. We fell 10-15 runs short. The second half wasn't good for us. The guys who were out in the middle can learn about what shots can be played. These things can happen. Losses like these will make us understand what works as a team."

He added, "Since the last World Cup, we haven't lost too many games. These games will teach us. We wanted to put ourselves under pressure in the Asia Cup. We are still looking for answers."

Rohit Sharma-led India went down to Sri Lanka by six wickets in defence of 173/8 in the Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition, on Tuesday (September 06) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Rohit Sharma-led India went down to Sri Lanka by six wickets in defence of 173/8 in the Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition, on Tuesday (September 06) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. After losing to Pakistan, India were in a must-win position versus Sri Lanka but the Dasun Shanaka-led side punched above their weight to push India closer to elimination. Being asked to bat first, India rode on Rohit's 72 and Suryakumar Yadav's 34 to post a competitive score. However, they fell short of posting anything near 200 given the platform set by Hitman. In reply, Pathum Nissanka-Kusal Mendis' fifties and finishing cameos from Shanaka-Bhanuka Rajapaksa propelled the Islanders to a stunning six-wicket win on the penultimate ball. With the Men in Blue almost on the verge of an early exit, T20 World Cup winner Robin Uthappa opined on the national side's struggles at the continental tournament. "India are trying too many things, trying to fix something that is not broken. They have overthought this. Be as aggressive as you want, but if you do not have wickets at the back end, you are always going to be under the pump," Uthappa said on ESPNCricinfo. ALSO READ | Ind vs SL: Rishabh Pant's reaction to Hardik Pandya's batting promotion in Asia Cup tie goes viral - WATCH At the post-match presentation, Rohit said, "We just ended up on the wrong side, as simple as that. We could have capitalized on the first half of our innings. We fell 10-15 runs short. The second half wasn't good for us. The guys who were out in the middle can learn about what shots can be played. These things can happen. Losses like these will make us understand what works as a team." He added, "Since the last World Cup, we haven't lost too many games. These games will teach us. We wanted to put ourselves under pressure in the Asia Cup. We are still looking for answers."

'Trying to fix something that is not broken' - India's T20 WC winner on Rohit & Co.'s Asia Cup struggles

India and Sri Lanka produced a thrilling contest in the Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition before Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. went down on the penultimate ball. Defending a competitive 174, Dasun Shanaka &amp; Co. rode on the captain's finishing cameo, Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 25-ball 17* and fifties from Pathan Nissanka-Kusal Mendis to push India close to an early elimination.

Being asked to bat first, Rohit-led India rode on the skipper's 42-ball 71 and some useful contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (34), Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya (17 runs apiece) and R Ashwin's 7-ball 15 not out to post 173/8. In reply, SL's refreshing and confident approach took India by surprise with the game going down to the wire.

In the last over, Arshdeep Singh was given seven runs to defend and the 23-year-old speedster gave his all to keep the game alive. With two needed off as many deliveries, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant had taken a glove off in anticipation of a throw. While Shanaka failed to connect the second-last delivery, he ran&nbsp;and Pant missed a direct hit, which would've easily led to Rajapaksa's dismissal.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-joins-virat-kohli-with-most-50-t20i-scores-during-indias-asia-cup-face-off-vs-sl-513556">Rohit Sharma joins Virat Kohli with most 50+ T20I scores during India's Asia Cup face-off vs SL</a>

Following Pant's failed attempt, Arshdeep also tried to run-out Shanaka at the non-striker's end before missing&nbsp;the stumps as the Lankan batters completed two runs. Thus, SL beat India by six wickets on the penultimate delivery. After Pant's failed attempt, Twitterati was quick to criticise him and MS Dhoni began trending in no time. Here are some of the responses:

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today i missed mahi more than my ex. 🥹😥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhoni</a> 🫶🏻 <a href="https://t.co/I2QAJ3X7Ci">pic.twitter.com/I2QAJ3X7Ci</a>
— k (@0x0kg) <a href="https://twitter.com/0x0kg/status/1567228848869376000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Why Dhoni is Invaluable . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSL</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RishabhPant?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RishabhPant</a> <a href="https://t.co/c949JACXDf">pic.twitter.com/c949JACXDf</a>
— Autumn (@Autumn_streek) <a href="https://twitter.com/Autumn_streek/status/1567209192989294594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Missing you Dhoni🤌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RishabhPant?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RishabhPant</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blunder?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blunder</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhoni</a> <a href="https://t.co/v5sTfYuTEl">pic.twitter.com/v5sTfYuTEl</a>
— sehan ismail (@sehan_ismail12) <a href="https://twitter.com/sehan_ismail12/status/1567209012231557121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSDhoni</a> 
The guy who used to turn matches from behind the stumps. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RishabhPant?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RishabhPant</a> <a href="https://t.co/1Ap1GOUEwV">pic.twitter.com/1Ap1GOUEwV</a>
— Moin Thakur (@MoinThakur) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoinThakur/status/1567213853850882050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-after-loss-to-pakistan-sri-lanka-how-india-can-still-qualify-for-asia-cup-2022-final-513638">EXPLAINED! After losing to Pakistan &amp; Sri Lanka, how India can still qualify for Asia Cup 2022 final</a>

At the post-match presentation, Rohit said, "We just ended up on the wrong side, as simple as that. We could have capitalized on the first half of our innings. We fell 10-15 runs short. The second half wasn't good for us. The guys who were out in the middle can learn about what shots can be played. These things can happen. Losses like these will make us understand what works as a team."

India and Sri Lanka produced a thrilling contest in the Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition before Rohit Sharma & Co. went down on the penultimate ball.

India and Sri Lanka produced a thrilling contest in the Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition before Rohit Sharma & Co. went down on the penultimate ball. Defending a competitive 174, Dasun Shanaka & Co. rode on the captain's finishing cameo, Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 25-ball 17* and fifties from Pathan Nissanka-Kusal Mendis to push India close to an early elimination. Being asked to bat first, Rohit-led India rode on the skipper's 42-ball 71 and some useful contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (34), Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya (17 runs apiece) and R Ashwin's 7-ball 15 not out to post 173/8. In reply, SL's refreshing and confident approach took India by surprise with the game going down to the wire. In the last over, Arshdeep Singh was given seven runs to defend and the 23-year-old speedster gave his all to keep the game alive. With two needed off as many deliveries, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant had taken a glove off in anticipation of a throw. While Shanaka failed to connect the second-last delivery, he ran and Pant missed a direct hit, which would've easily led to Rajapaksa's dismissal. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma joins Virat Kohli with most 50+ T20I scores during India's Asia Cup face-off vs SL Following Pant's failed attempt, Arshdeep also tried to run-out Shanaka at the non-striker's end before missing the stumps as the Lankan batters completed two runs. Thus, SL beat India by six wickets on the penultimate delivery. After Pant's failed attempt, Twitterati was quick to criticise him and MS Dhoni began trending in no time. Here are some of the responses: today i missed mahi more than my ex. 🥹😥 #INDvSL #Dhoni 🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/I2QAJ3X7Ci — k (@0x0kg) September 6, 2022 × Why Dhoni is Invaluable . #INDvSL#RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/c949JACXDf — Autumn (@Autumn_streek) September 6, 2022 × Missing you Dhoni🤌#INDvSL #RishabhPant #blunder #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/v5sTfYuTEl — sehan ismail (@sehan_ismail12) September 6, 2022 × #MSDhoni The guy who used to turn matches from behind the stumps. #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/1Ap1GOUEwV — Moin Thakur (@MoinThakur) September 6, 2022 × ALSO READ | EXPLAINED! After losing to Pakistan & Sri Lanka, how India can still qualify for Asia Cup 2022 final At the post-match presentation, Rohit said, "We just ended up on the wrong side, as simple as that. We could have capitalized on the first half of our innings. We fell 10-15 runs short. The second half wasn't good for us. The guys who were out in the middle can learn about what shots can be played. These things can happen. Losses like these will make us understand what works as a team."

Watch: MS Dhoni trends on Twitter after Rishabh Pant misses direct hit in final over during India-SL clash

India lost to Sri Lanka in a must-win Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06), at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. After losing to Pakistan in their opening clash in the Super Four round, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. were expected to bounce back over the eighth-ranked Lankans, however, Dasun Shanaka &amp; Co. beat them by six wickets in a pulsating 174-run chase.

Opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka rode on early strikes from Dilshan Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana before Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne dented the run-flow in the end overs. Rohit's 41-ball 72 and some contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (34), Rishabh Pant-Hardik Pandya (17 runs a piece) and R Ashwin's 7-ball 15 not out took India to 173/8.

In reply, Kusal Mendis-Pathum Nissanka's half-centuries and Shanaka-Bhanuka Rajapaksha's finishing cameos took SL past the finish line in another last-over thriller in Dubai. With back-to-back defeats, after dominating the group stage, India have one foot on the flight back home. They, however, have a slim chance of making it to the final. Nonetheless, the Men in Blue&nbsp;need a lot of things to fall in their favour.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-joins-virat-kohli-with-most-50-t20i-scores-during-indias-asia-cup-face-off-vs-sl-513556">Rohit Sharma joins Virat Kohli with most 50+ T20I scores during India's Asia Cup face-off vs SL&nbsp;</a>

How can Team India still make it to the final

India will need help from all the other teams in the tournament to remain alive and somehow enter the final.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka: The defending champions will need the Islanders to beat Pakistan by a handsome margin. The Dasun Shanaka-led side are very much through to the final but can keep India alive with a big win over the Men in Green in their remaining fixture in the Super Four.

Pakistan: Babar-led Pakistan have two more games to go. If they win any of them, it will be curtains for India in the tournament. For India to remain alive, they need their arch-rivals to lose to Sri Lanka by a big margin and also succumb to the Afghans, on Wednesday (September 07), by a relatively close margin.

Afghanistan: The Mohammad Nabi-led side also have two games to play. They need to beat Pakistan at any cost for India's hopes to be alive. Later, India will hope to go past the Afghans by a big margin and somehow sneak into the final.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-sri-lanka-beat-india-by-6-wickets-in-super-4-push-rohit-sharma-co-near-elimination-513570">Asia Cup: Sri Lanka beat India by 6 wickets in Super 4, push Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. near elimination</a>

After the loss versus SL, a dejected Rohit said at the post-match presentation, "We just ended up on the wrong side, as simple as that. We could have capitalized on the first half of our innings. We fell 10-15 runs short. The second half wasn't good for us. The guys who were out in the middle can learn about what shots can be played. These things can happen. Losses like these will make us understand what works as a team."

He added, "Since the last World Cup, we haven't lost too many games. These games will teach us. We wanted to put ourselves under pressure in the Asia Cup. We are still looking for answers."

India lost to Sri Lanka in a must-win Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06), at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

India lost to Sri Lanka in a must-win Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06), at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. After losing to Pakistan in their opening clash in the Super Four round, Rohit Sharma & Co. were expected to bounce back over the eighth-ranked Lankans, however, Dasun Shanaka & Co. beat them by six wickets in a pulsating 174-run chase. Opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka rode on early strikes from Dilshan Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana before Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne dented the run-flow in the end overs. Rohit's 41-ball 72 and some contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (34), Rishabh Pant-Hardik Pandya (17 runs a piece) and R Ashwin's 7-ball 15 not out took India to 173/8. In reply, Kusal Mendis-Pathum Nissanka's half-centuries and Shanaka-Bhanuka Rajapaksha's finishing cameos took SL past the finish line in another last-over thriller in Dubai. With back-to-back defeats, after dominating the group stage, India have one foot on the flight back home. They, however, have a slim chance of making it to the final. Nonetheless, the Men in Blue need a lot of things to fall in their favour. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma joins Virat Kohli with most 50+ T20I scores during India's Asia Cup face-off vs SL How can Team India still make it to the final India will need help from all the other teams in the tournament to remain alive and somehow enter the final. Sri Lanka: The defending champions will need the Islanders to beat Pakistan by a handsome margin. The Dasun Shanaka-led side are very much through to the final but can keep India alive with a big win over the Men in Green in their remaining fixture in the Super Four. Pakistan: Babar-led Pakistan have two more games to go. If they win any of them, it will be curtains for India in the tournament. For India to remain alive, they need their arch-rivals to lose to Sri Lanka by a big margin and also succumb to the Afghans, on Wednesday (September 07), by a relatively close margin. Afghanistan: The Mohammad Nabi-led side also have two games to play. They need to beat Pakistan at any cost for India's hopes to be alive. Later, India will hope to go past the Afghans by a big margin and somehow sneak into the final. ALSO READ | Asia Cup: Sri Lanka beat India by 6 wickets in Super 4, push Rohit Sharma & Co. near elimination After the loss versus SL, a dejected Rohit said at the post-match presentation, "We just ended up on the wrong side, as simple as that. We could have capitalized on the first half of our innings. We fell 10-15 runs short. The second half wasn't good for us. The guys who were out in the middle can learn about what shots can be played. These things can happen. Losses like these will make us understand what works as a team." He added, "Since the last World Cup, we haven't lost too many games. These games will teach us. We wanted to put ourselves under pressure in the Asia Cup. We are still looking for answers."

EXPLAINED! After losing to Pakistan & Sri Lanka, how India can still qualify for Asia Cup 2022 final

After a defeat versus Pakistan, India faced Sri Lanka in a crucial Super Four clash in the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06). Riding on Rohit Sharma's 41-ball 72 and some contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and R Ashwin, they managed a competitive 173-8 but the Lankans impressed throughout the contest and defeated India by six wickets in a pulsating run-chase, with Dilshan Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and captain Dasun Shanaka leading the charge. With another defeat in the Super Four, India have one foot&nbsp;on the flight back home.&nbsp;

Being asked to bat first, Rohit-led India lost KL Rahul and Virat Kohli for cheap. While Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Rahul, Kohli looked clueless and played a very poor shot off&nbsp;Dilshan Madushanka to depart for a four-ball duck. The onus fell on captain Rohit and he looked in his elements. He was joined by his Mumbai Indians' (MI) teammate Suryakumar Yadav as the two stitched 97-run stand with Rohit being the aggressor, smashing some big sixes en route to an impressive 41-ball 72 (laced with 5 fours, 4 sixes). His dismissal, however, brought the Lankans back into the contest with SKY (34), Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya (falling for 17 apiece) with the bowlers using the longer dimensions of the ground to good effect.&nbsp;

Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka accounted for two scalps each and a combined bowling effort restricted India to 173/8. Madushanka was most impressive with a spell of 4-0-24-3. With the Lankans having completed two successive run-chases on the trot, they were favourites going into the run-chase.

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In reply, SL openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka started off on a confident note. The Indian bowlers didn't resort to the change of pace as much as the Lankans and paid the price. The two openers complemented each other and found the boundaries at regular intervals as India failed to produce wicket-taking deliveries. At the halfway stage, SL were 89 for no loss. In the 12th over, Yuzvendra Chahal inflicted two wickets on the trot to bring India back into the game. R Ashwin also removed&nbsp;Danushka Gunathilaka but Nissanka's wicket changed the complexion of the game completely.&nbsp;

However, skipper Shanaka's 18-ball 33 not out and&nbsp;Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 17-ball 25* took the Islanders home in another last-ball thriller. Arshdeep Singh tried his best in the final over but some sloppy work on the field and few loose deliveries from time to time sealed India's fate, bringing them very close to an early elimination. They now face Afghanistan on Thursday (September 08) but will hope for the Afghan side to beat Pakistan on Wednesday (September 07) to remain alive in the contest by the barest of margins.

If Pakistan win even one of their remaining two games, India will stand eliminated irrespective of the result against Afghanistan.

After a defeat versus Pakistan, India faced Sri Lanka in a crucial Super Four clash in the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06). Riding on Rohit Sharma's 41-ball 72 and some contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and R Ashwin, they managed a competitive 173-8 but the Lankans impressed throughout the contest and defeated India by six wickets in a pulsating run-chase, with Dilshan Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and captain Dasun Shanaka leading the charge.

After a defeat versus Pakistan, India faced Sri Lanka in a crucial Super Four clash in the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06). Riding on Rohit Sharma's 41-ball 72 and some contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and R Ashwin, they managed a competitive 173-8 but the Lankans impressed throughout the contest and defeated India by six wickets in a pulsating run-chase, with Dilshan Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and captain Dasun Shanaka leading the charge. With another defeat in the Super Four, India have one foot on the flight back home. Being asked to bat first, Rohit-led India lost KL Rahul and Virat Kohli for cheap. While Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Rahul, Kohli looked clueless and played a very poor shot off Dilshan Madushanka to depart for a four-ball duck. The onus fell on captain Rohit and he looked in his elements. He was joined by his Mumbai Indians' (MI) teammate Suryakumar Yadav as the two stitched 97-run stand with Rohit being the aggressor, smashing some big sixes en route to an impressive 41-ball 72 (laced with 5 fours, 4 sixes). His dismissal, however, brought the Lankans back into the contest with SKY (34), Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya (falling for 17 apiece) with the bowlers using the longer dimensions of the ground to good effect. Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka accounted for two scalps each and a combined bowling effort restricted India to 173/8. Madushanka was most impressive with a spell of 4-0-24-3. With the Lankans having completed two successive run-chases on the trot, they were favourites going into the run-chase. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma joins Virat Kohli with most 50+ T20I scores during India's Asia Cup face-off vs SL In reply, SL openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka started off on a confident note. The Indian bowlers didn't resort to the change of pace as much as the Lankans and paid the price. The two openers complemented each other and found the boundaries at regular intervals as India failed to produce wicket-taking deliveries. At the halfway stage, SL were 89 for no loss. In the 12th over, Yuzvendra Chahal inflicted two wickets on the trot to bring India back into the game. R Ashwin also removed Danushka Gunathilaka but Nissanka's wicket changed the complexion of the game completely. However, skipper Shanaka's 18-ball 33 not out and Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 17-ball 25* took the Islanders home in another last-ball thriller. Arshdeep Singh tried his best in the final over but some sloppy work on the field and few loose deliveries from time to time sealed India's fate, bringing them very close to an early elimination. They now face Afghanistan on Thursday (September 08) but will hope for the Afghan side to beat Pakistan on Wednesday (September 07) to remain alive in the contest by the barest of margins. If Pakistan win even one of their remaining two games, India will stand eliminated irrespective of the result against Afghanistan.

Asia Cup: Sri Lanka beat India by 6 wickets in Super 4, push Rohit Sharma & Co. near elimination

Rohit Sharma-led India are facing Sri Lanka in a must-win clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06), at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Being asked to bat first, India ended the first innings scoring 173/8 in 20 overs in the Super Four clash, with captain Rohit scoring a blistering 41-ball 72. His innings was laced with 5 fours and 4 sixes, at a whopping strike rate of 175.64, before he fell trying to take India's total beyond the 200-run mark.

Despite Rohit missing out on a century, the righj-hander's blitz took India to a competitive score, 173 for 8, and Hitman also joined Virat Kohli at the top of an elite list. He now has most 50-plus scores in the format along with his predecessor.&nbsp;

Here are the players with most 50+ T20I scores:

Rohit Sharma - 32 (4 100s, 27 fifties) in 136 matches

Virat Kohli - 32 (0 100s, 32 fifties) in 103 matches

Babar Azam - 27 (1 100, 26 fifties) in 77 matches

David Warner - 23 (1 100, 22 fifties) in 91 matches

Martin Guptill - 22 (2 100s, 20 fifties) in 121 matches

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-shares-cryptic-instagram-story-after-big-revelation-on-ms-dhoni-in-indo-pak-post-match-presser-513517">Virat Kohli shares cryptic Instagram story after big revelation on MS Dhoni in Indo-Pak post-match presser</a>

The entertaining knock versus the Islanders was Rohit's 28th T20I half-century. If the star batter's four hundreds are counted, Rohit has as many as 32 50+ scores in the shortest format, coming at par with Virat's tally. Interestingly, Virat had achieved his 32nd fifty-plus score in India's Super Four clash versus Pakistan at the same venue on Sunday evening (September 04).&nbsp;

Talking about India's performance, the likes of KL Rahul (6), Virat (0), Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Deepak Hooda struggled to get going in India-SL face-off and only Rohit's 72, Suryakumar Yadav's 34 and R Ashwin's 7-ball 15 propelled India to a total beyond the 170-run mark in a must-win game for the defending champions. SL, on the other hand, have got off to a dream start and are inching closer to a memorable win over Team India.

Rohit Sharma-led India are facing Sri Lanka in a must-win clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06), at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Rohit Sharma-led India are facing Sri Lanka in a must-win clash at the Asia Cup 2022 edition on Tuesday (September 06), at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Being asked to bat first, India ended the first innings scoring 173/8 in 20 overs in the Super Four clash, with captain Rohit scoring a blistering 41-ball 72. His innings was laced with 5 fours and 4 sixes, at a whopping strike rate of 175.64, before he fell trying to take India's total beyond the 200-run mark. Despite Rohit missing out on a century, the righj-hander's blitz took India to a competitive score, 173 for 8, and Hitman also joined Virat Kohli at the top of an elite list. He now has most 50-plus scores in the format along with his predecessor. Here are the players with most 50+ T20I scores: Rohit Sharma - 32 (4 100s, 27 fifties) in 136 matches Virat Kohli - 32 (0 100s, 32 fifties) in 103 matches Babar Azam - 27 (1 100, 26 fifties) in 77 matches David Warner - 23 (1 100, 22 fifties) in 91 matches Martin Guptill - 22 (2 100s, 20 fifties) in 121 matches ALSO READ | Virat Kohli shares cryptic Instagram story after big revelation on MS Dhoni in Indo-Pak post-match presser The entertaining knock versus the Islanders was Rohit's 28th T20I half-century. If the star batter's four hundreds are counted, Rohit has as many as 32 50+ scores in the shortest format, coming at par with Virat's tally. Interestingly, Virat had achieved his 32nd fifty-plus score in India's Super Four clash versus Pakistan at the same venue on Sunday evening (September 04). Talking about India's performance, the likes of KL Rahul (6), Virat (0), Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Deepak Hooda struggled to get going in India-SL face-off and only Rohit's 72, Suryakumar Yadav's 34 and R Ashwin's 7-ball 15 propelled India to a total beyond the 170-run mark in a must-win game for the defending champions. SL, on the other hand, have got off to a dream start and are inching closer to a memorable win over Team India.

Rohit Sharma joins Virat Kohli with most 50+ T20I scores during India's Asia Cup face-off vs SL

Virat Kohli attended India's post-match press conference after the Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue lost to Pakistan, by five wickets, in their Super Four clash at the Asia Cup on Sunday (September 04) in Dubai. After being India's top run-getter (44-ball 60), Kohli's efforts went in vain as Babar Azam-led Pakistan won&nbsp;with Md Rizwan (71), Md Nawaz's 20-ball 42 and late hits from Khusdil Shah-Asif Ali taking the Men in Green&nbsp;past the finish line.&nbsp;

After the high-voltage encounter, Kohli addressed the post-match presser and made a big revelation. When asked to comment on how he dealt with all the talks regarding his form, Kohli stated that he doesn't give a lot of prominence to advice he gets on television and revealed that only MS Dhoni -- among the ex-cricketers -- texted him post his Test captaincy resignation. He meant that such gestures mean a lot more to him than receiving suggestions&nbsp;in front of the whole world.

Ahead of India's Asia Cup Super Four clash versus Sri Lanka, Kohli took to his Instagram handle to probably explain his comments and took a cue from an inspirational quote. He shared a text stating, "Notice the people who are happy for your happiness, and sad for your sadness. They're the ones who deserve special places in your heart.' Kohli shared the same and wrote 'Word.'

<img alt="Virat Kohli IG story" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2150050e-05fe-4f73-a9dd-b779cd485317" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Virat%20Kohli%20Instagram%20story.JPG" />

At the presser, Kohli had said, "Let me tell you one thing: when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I had played previously; that was MS Dhoni. Many people have my number. On TV, people give lots of suggestions, people have a lot to say. But none of the people who had my number sent me a message."

"That respect [with Dhoni], that connection you have with someone, when it is genuine, it shows like this, because there is no insecurity with either of us. Neither does he [Dhoni] need anything from me, nor do I need anything from him. Neither of us suffers from insecurity. I can only say: if I want to say something to someone, I reach out to that person individually if I want to help. I mean, if you give the suggestions in front of the world, it has no value for me. If it is for my improvement, you can talk with me one-on-one, (tell me) that I genuinely want you to do well," the 33-year-old added.

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Some former cricketers have already reacted to Kohli's recent comments. Former opener Sunil Gavaskar told India Today, "I don't know what the dressing room inside situation was with all these other players, I think, ideally, if he has named one person who got in touch, maybe the other people who didn't get in touch should have also been named. Then that would have been a little bit fair to everyone concerned rather than thinking everybody else didn't get in touch with him."

Kohli-starrer India are currently involved in a must-win clash versus Sri Lanka in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup 2022 edition, being held in the UAE.

Virat Kohli attended India's post-match press conference after the Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue lost to Pakistan, by five wickets, in their Super Four clash at the Asia Cup on Sunday (September 04) in Dubai.

Virat Kohli attended India's post-match press conference after the Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue lost to Pakistan, by five wickets, in their Super Four clash at the Asia Cup on Sunday (September 04) in Dubai. After being India's top run-getter (44-ball 60), Kohli's efforts went in vain as Babar Azam-led Pakistan won with Md Rizwan (71), Md Nawaz's 20-ball 42 and late hits from Khusdil Shah-Asif Ali taking the Men in Green past the finish line. After the high-voltage encounter, Kohli addressed the post-match presser and made a big revelation. When asked to comment on how he dealt with all the talks regarding his form, Kohli stated that he doesn't give a lot of prominence to advice he gets on television and revealed that only MS Dhoni -- among the ex-cricketers -- texted him post his Test captaincy resignation. He meant that such gestures mean a lot more to him than receiving suggestions in front of the whole world. Ahead of India's Asia Cup Super Four clash versus Sri Lanka, Kohli took to his Instagram handle to probably explain his comments and took a cue from an inspirational quote. He shared a text stating, "Notice the people who are happy for your happiness, and sad for your sadness. They're the ones who deserve special places in your heart.' Kohli shared the same and wrote 'Word.' At the presser, Kohli had said, "Let me tell you one thing: when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I had played previously; that was MS Dhoni. Many people have my number. On TV, people give lots of suggestions, people have a lot to say. But none of the people who had my number sent me a message." "That respect [with Dhoni], that connection you have with someone, when it is genuine, it shows like this, because there is no insecurity with either of us. Neither does he [Dhoni] need anything from me, nor do I need anything from him. Neither of us suffers from insecurity. I can only say: if I want to say something to someone, I reach out to that person individually if I want to help. I mean, if you give the suggestions in front of the world, it has no value for me. If it is for my improvement, you can talk with me one-on-one, (tell me) that I genuinely want you to do well," the 33-year-old added. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli should have named people who didn't get in touch after he quit Test captaincy: Sunil Gavaskar Some former cricketers have already reacted to Kohli's recent comments. Former opener Sunil Gavaskar told India Today, "I don't know what the dressing room inside situation was with all these other players, I think, ideally, if he has named one person who got in touch, maybe the other people who didn't get in touch should have also been named. Then that would have been a little bit fair to everyone concerned rather than thinking everybody else didn't get in touch with him." Kohli-starrer India are currently involved in a must-win clash versus Sri Lanka in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup 2022 edition, being held in the UAE.

Virat Kohli shares cryptic Instagram story after big revelation on MS Dhoni in Indo-Pak post-match presser

Virat Kohli's recent comments in the post-match press conference after India's five-wicket loss against Pakistan sent social media abuzz. In the presser, Kohli recalled how former India captain MS Dhoni was the only one among those who played with him, to text him after he had left India's Test captaincy earlier this year.

Kohli, who scored his second successive fifty in the Asia Cup against Pakistan on Sunday, spoke about a range of topics during the presser. However, his comments about only Dhoni texting him post his resignation from Test captaincy set social media on fire.

Kohli said many former cricketers who have been criticising him on TV over the last few months, have his phone number but it was only Dhoni who sent him a text.&nbsp;

“I can tell you one thing... when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I have played previously - MS Dhoni,” Kohli said in the presser.

“Many people have my number. On TV, lots of people give suggestions, but whoever had my number, no one texted," he added.

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Reacting to his comments, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official has expressed his disappointment and said Kohli had the backing of the board and his teammates when he stepped down as Test captain. The official added that everyone at BCCI wished him on social media.

“Virat has had the backing of everyone. From his teammates to everyone at the BCCI. To say that he did not get the support, is not true. He was granted a break to rejuvenate, he got frequent rest. Even everyone at BCCI wished him on social media when he stepped down from Test captaincy. So, I don’t know what he is talking about,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport.

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Kohli has looked far calmer and focused in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 after making his comeback for the Indian team post his short hiatus from cricket. He looks close to rediscovering his form and has so far scored 154 runs in three games, including two fifties in the last two games.

Virat Kohli's recent comments in the post-match press conference after India's five-wicket loss against Pakistan sent social media abuzz. In the presser, Kohli recalled how former India captain MS Dhoni was the only one among those who played with him, to text him after he had left India's Test captaincy earlier this year.

Virat Kohli's recent comments in the post-match press conference after India's five-wicket loss against Pakistan sent social media abuzz. In the presser, Kohli recalled how former India captain MS Dhoni was the only one among those who played with him, to text him after he had left India's Test captaincy earlier this year. Kohli, who scored his second successive fifty in the Asia Cup against Pakistan on Sunday, spoke about a range of topics during the presser. However, his comments about only Dhoni texting him post his resignation from Test captaincy set social media on fire. Kohli said many former cricketers who have been criticising him on TV over the last few months, have his phone number but it was only Dhoni who sent him a text. “I can tell you one thing... when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I have played previously - MS Dhoni,” Kohli said in the presser. “Many people have my number. On TV, lots of people give suggestions, but whoever had my number, no one texted," he added. Also Read: Arshdeep Singh's parents reveal what he told them after facing online abuse over dropped catch vs Pakistan Reacting to his comments, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official has expressed his disappointment and said Kohli had the backing of the board and his teammates when he stepped down as Test captain. The official added that everyone at BCCI wished him on social media. “Virat has had the backing of everyone. From his teammates to everyone at the BCCI. To say that he did not get the support, is not true. He was granted a break to rejuvenate, he got frequent rest. Even everyone at BCCI wished him on social media when he stepped down from Test captaincy. So, I don’t know what he is talking about,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport. Also Read: Virat Kohli should have named people who didn't get in touch after he quit Test captaincy: Sunil Gavaskar Kohli has looked far calmer and focused in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 after making his comeback for the Indian team post his short hiatus from cricket. He looks close to rediscovering his form and has so far scored 154 runs in three games, including two fifties in the last two games.

To say Virat Kohli didn't get support is not true: BCCI official on former India skipper's recent comments

India topped their Group A and stormed into the Super Four in the Asia Cup before losing having an off-day against Pakistan on Sunday evening (September 04). In both sides' Super Four opening games, Babar Azam-led Pakistan beat India by five wickets in a thrilling contest at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. In a high-scoring affair, India were asked to bat first and rode on Virat Kohli's 44-ball 60 to post 181/7 before Mohammad Rizwan's 71 and Mohammad Nawaz's 20-ball 42 propelled Men in Green to a stunning win on the penultimate ball of the encounter.&nbsp;

With the defeat, India's journey at the Asia Cup has been dented. Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. entered the tournament as favourites and had a fine start. They also fought hard till the last over versus Pakistan before losing the tie and a solitary defeat has pushed them on the back foot given the format of the tournament. They face Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in their next two Super Four clashes, a must-win by all means, and will hope to beat them both to enter the summit clash.&nbsp;

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In terms of rankings, India (1st) and Sri Lanka (8th) are poles apart. However, the rankings don't matter one bit at this point of the tournament. The Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders had lost their tournament-opener to Afghanistan before turning the tides emphatically with two impressive wins over Bangladesh and Afghanistan (in their Super Four opener). Thus, the momentum has shifted in Sri Lanka's favour in no time and the pressure is now on Team India. In all scenario, expect another thriller on cards when India face Sri Lanka on Tuesday evening, at the same venue where they lost to Pakistan.&nbsp;

Match prediction for India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup clash: Another good surface akin for batters will be on cards in the battle of two Asian heavyweights. The captain winning the toss will aim to bowl first and can expect to chase anything over 170-175. Will India bounce back in style and go past the Sri Lankans? Well, they will still be favourites given their balance and overall batting prowess.

India topped their Group A and stormed into the Super Four in the Asia Cup before losing having an off-day against Pakistan on Sunday evening (September 04). In both sides' Super Four opening games, Babar Azam-led Pakistan beat India by five wickets in a thrilling contest at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

India topped their Group A and stormed into the Super Four in the Asia Cup before losing having an off-day against Pakistan on Sunday evening (September 04). In both sides' Super Four opening games, Babar Azam-led Pakistan beat India by five wickets in a thrilling contest at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. In a high-scoring affair, India were asked to bat first and rode on Virat Kohli's 44-ball 60 to post 181/7 before Mohammad Rizwan's 71 and Mohammad Nawaz's 20-ball 42 propelled Men in Green to a stunning win on the penultimate ball of the encounter. With the defeat, India's journey at the Asia Cup has been dented. Rohit Sharma & Co. entered the tournament as favourites and had a fine start. They also fought hard till the last over versus Pakistan before losing the tie and a solitary defeat has pushed them on the back foot given the format of the tournament. They face Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in their next two Super Four clashes, a must-win by all means, and will hope to beat them both to enter the summit clash. ALSO READ | Yuzvendra Chahal to be dropped? India's predicted playing XI for must-win Asia Cup clash against Sri Lanka In terms of rankings, India (1st) and Sri Lanka (8th) are poles apart. However, the rankings don't matter one bit at this point of the tournament. The Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders had lost their tournament-opener to Afghanistan before turning the tides emphatically with two impressive wins over Bangladesh and Afghanistan (in their Super Four opener). Thus, the momentum has shifted in Sri Lanka's favour in no time and the pressure is now on Team India. In all scenario, expect another thriller on cards when India face Sri Lanka on Tuesday evening, at the same venue where they lost to Pakistan. Match prediction for India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup clash: Another good surface akin for batters will be on cards in the battle of two Asian heavyweights. The captain winning the toss will aim to bowl first and can expect to chase anything over 170-175. Will India bounce back in style and go past the Sri Lankans? Well, they will still be favourites given their balance and overall batting prowess.

IND vs SL, Asia Cup 2022 prediction: Who will win today's Super Four clash between India and Sri Lanka?

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar has shared his two cents on Virat Kohli's recent revelations in the post-match press conference after India's defeat against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday. Dropping a bombshell in the presser, Kohli had revealed many criticised him across social media platforms but only ex-India captain MS Dhoni was among former players who texted him after he quit as India's Test captain earlier this year.

Kohli had announced his decision to step down as India's Test captain in January this year following which Rohit Sharma took over as the new skipper in all three formats. During the presser, Kohli recalled his resignation from Test captaincy after he was asked how he dealt with the difficult patch in the last few months.

Kohli had been on the receiving end of massive criticism over his poor form with some even questioning his spot in India's T20I team before his solid comeback in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022. Recalling how Dhoni was the only one to message him among former players, Kohli said these things mattered to him.

“I can tell you one thing... when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I have played previously - MS Dhoni,” Kohli said in the presser.

“Many people have my number. On TV, lots of people give suggestions, but whoever had my number, no one texted. When you have a genuine connection with someone, it shows because you’re never insecure about each other," he added.

Reacting to Kohli's revelations, former India captain Gavaskar has said the senior batter should have named those who he didn't get in touch with him after he quit Test captaincy. While refraining from commenting on the situation inside the current India dressing room, Gavaskar said it would have been fair to those concerned had Kohli named them.

"I don't know what the dressing room inside situation was with all these other players, I think, ideally, if he has named one person who got in touch, maybe the other people who didn't get in touch should have also been named. Then that would have been a little bit fair to everyone concerned rather than thinking everybody else didn't get in touch with him," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by India Today.

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In the presser, Kohli had also spoken about the great environment in the team at present while praising head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma for keeping the team together. However, Gavaskar said he won't take Kohli's comments too seriously as no active player would want to go against the coach and captain.

"I am just saying what I feel when I hear the comments coming about the current leadership. One of the most futile questions that I hear during an IPL Q and A session between the commentators and the Man of the Match is asking about the current coach and the current captain," said Gavaskar.

"Is that current player ever going to say anything against the current captain and coach? That's a futile question. Nobody, anybody, who is mindful of his career, is going to cut his feet by saying something stupid about the current regime," he further added.

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Kohli has so far looked in decent touch in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 and has been India's top-scorer with 154 runs in three matches, including back-to-back fifties in the last two matches for India. He will be looking to continue his fine form when India take on Sri Lanka in a must-win clash in the Super 4 on Tuesday.

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar has shared his two cents on Virat Kohli's recent revelations in the post-match press conference after India's defeat against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday.

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar has shared his two cents on Virat Kohli's recent revelations in the post-match press conference after India's defeat against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday. Dropping a bombshell in the presser, Kohli had revealed many criticised him across social media platforms but only ex-India captain MS Dhoni was among former players who texted him after he quit as India's Test captain earlier this year. Kohli had announced his decision to step down as India's Test captain in January this year following which Rohit Sharma took over as the new skipper in all three formats. During the presser, Kohli recalled his resignation from Test captaincy after he was asked how he dealt with the difficult patch in the last few months. Kohli had been on the receiving end of massive criticism over his poor form with some even questioning his spot in India's T20I team before his solid comeback in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022. Recalling how Dhoni was the only one to message him among former players, Kohli said these things mattered to him. “I can tell you one thing... when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I have played previously - MS Dhoni,” Kohli said in the presser. “Many people have my number. On TV, lots of people give suggestions, but whoever had my number, no one texted. When you have a genuine connection with someone, it shows because you’re never insecure about each other," he added. Reacting to Kohli's revelations, former India captain Gavaskar has said the senior batter should have named those who he didn't get in touch with him after he quit Test captaincy. While refraining from commenting on the situation inside the current India dressing room, Gavaskar said it would have been fair to those concerned had Kohli named them. "I don't know what the dressing room inside situation was with all these other players, I think, ideally, if he has named one person who got in touch, maybe the other people who didn't get in touch should have also been named. Then that would have been a little bit fair to everyone concerned rather than thinking everybody else didn't get in touch with him," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by India Today. Also Read: Suresh Raina announces retirement from all forms of cricket, likely to play overseas T20 leagues In the presser, Kohli had also spoken about the great environment in the team at present while praising head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma for keeping the team together. However, Gavaskar said he won't take Kohli's comments too seriously as no active player would want to go against the coach and captain. "I am just saying what I feel when I hear the comments coming about the current leadership. One of the most futile questions that I hear during an IPL Q and A session between the commentators and the Man of the Match is asking about the current coach and the current captain," said Gavaskar. "Is that current player ever going to say anything against the current captain and coach? That's a futile question. Nobody, anybody, who is mindful of his career, is going to cut his feet by saying something stupid about the current regime," he further added. Also Read: Arshdeep Singh's parents reveal what he told them after facing online abuse over dropped catch vs Pakistan Kohli has so far looked in decent touch in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 and has been India's top-scorer with 154 runs in three matches, including back-to-back fifties in the last two matches for India. He will be looking to continue his fine form when India take on Sri Lanka in a must-win clash in the Super 4 on Tuesday.

Virat Kohli should have named people who didn't get in touch after he quit Test captaincy: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain Virat Kohli continued his purple patch in Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday as he notched up his second successive half-century in the Super Four clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. Kohli's form was under the scanner ahead of the tournament but the senior batter has managed to shut his critics with his performances so far.

After his 59-run-knock against Hong Kong in India's last game, Kohli once again looked in sublime touch against Pakistan on Sunday. He came out to bat at number three and capitalised well on the good start provided by openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.

Kohli scored and notched up his fifty off just 36 balls and ended up with 60 runs off 44 balls laced with 4 fours and a solitary six. However, his brilliant knock went&nbsp;in vain as Pakistan successfully chased down the target of 182 runs to hand India their first defeat in the tournament.

Kohli spoke about the criticism he has faced over the last few months in the post-match press conference and said he has never paid attention to his critics. Sending a message to those who doubted him, Kohli said he has played international cricket for 14 years now and that doesn't happen by chance.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/only-ms-dhoni-texted-me-after-leaving-test-captaincy-recalls-virat-kohli-512942">‘Only MS Dhoni texted me after leaving Test captaincy’, recalls Virat Kohli</a>

“Never really paid attention to these things (answering the critics). I have played for 14 years and it doesn’t happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something that I am keen to do, keen to improve for my team and that’s something that I am going to continue to do so,” Kohli said.

“Everyone is doing their job (critics). Our job is to play the game, work hard, give our 120 percent. As long as I am doing that and the team has faith it in that, what happens in the change room that matters to us, to me as well. People have their opinions, that’s absolutely fine. That doesn’t change my happiness as a person,” he added.

Recently, questions were raised over Kohli's spot in India's T20I squad amid his lean patch for the Men in Blue. He had opted for a break after the conclusion of India's tour of England last month and was under immense pressure to perform in the Asia Cup after making his comeback for the team.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-one-drops-a-catch-purposely-harbhajan-hafeez-defend-arshdeep-singh-amid-criticism-after-pakistan-defeat-512968">'No one drops a catch purposely': Harbhajan, Hafeez defend Arshdeep Singh amid criticism after Pakistan defeat</a>

Kohli had also admitted facing mental struggles and not touching his bat for a month for the first time in ten years during his break. The former India captain has now admitted he feels much more relaxed and is once again loving playing the game all over again.

“I took some time away, put things in perspective and it’s given me a kind of relaxation that this is not the be-all-and-end-all of life. I have realised in life that I can’t put so much pressure of expectations on myself that I am not express myself. That’s not why I started playing the game. I was able to find that excitement back,” Kohli said.

“When I came here, the environment was very welcoming, and the camaraderie with the boys is amazing. The environment in the team is amazing, I am absolutely loving playing all over again and feeling good regarding my batting,” he added.

Former India captain Virat Kohli continued his purple patch in Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday as he notched up his second successive half-century in the Super Four clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium.

Former India captain Virat Kohli continued his purple patch in Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday as he notched up his second successive half-century in the Super Four clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. Kohli's form was under the scanner ahead of the tournament but the senior batter has managed to shut his critics with his performances so far. After his 59-run-knock against Hong Kong in India's last game, Kohli once again looked in sublime touch against Pakistan on Sunday. He came out to bat at number three and capitalised well on the good start provided by openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Kohli scored and notched up his fifty off just 36 balls and ended up with 60 runs off 44 balls laced with 4 fours and a solitary six. However, his brilliant knock went in vain as Pakistan successfully chased down the target of 182 runs to hand India their first defeat in the tournament. Kohli spoke about the criticism he has faced over the last few months in the post-match press conference and said he has never paid attention to his critics. Sending a message to those who doubted him, Kohli said he has played international cricket for 14 years now and that doesn't happen by chance. Also Read: ‘Only MS Dhoni texted me after leaving Test captaincy’, recalls Virat Kohli “Never really paid attention to these things (answering the critics). I have played for 14 years and it doesn’t happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something that I am keen to do, keen to improve for my team and that’s something that I am going to continue to do so,” Kohli said. “Everyone is doing their job (critics). Our job is to play the game, work hard, give our 120 percent. As long as I am doing that and the team has faith it in that, what happens in the change room that matters to us, to me as well. People have their opinions, that’s absolutely fine. That doesn’t change my happiness as a person,” he added. Recently, questions were raised over Kohli's spot in India's T20I squad amid his lean patch for the Men in Blue. He had opted for a break after the conclusion of India's tour of England last month and was under immense pressure to perform in the Asia Cup after making his comeback for the team. Also Read: 'No one drops a catch purposely': Harbhajan, Hafeez defend Arshdeep Singh amid criticism after Pakistan defeat Kohli had also admitted facing mental struggles and not touching his bat for a month for the first time in ten years during his break. The former India captain has now admitted he feels much more relaxed and is once again loving playing the game all over again. “I took some time away, put things in perspective and it’s given me a kind of relaxation that this is not the be-all-and-end-all of life. I have realised in life that I can’t put so much pressure of expectations on myself that I am not express myself. That’s not why I started playing the game. I was able to find that excitement back,” Kohli said. “When I came here, the environment was very welcoming, and the camaraderie with the boys is amazing. The environment in the team is amazing, I am absolutely loving playing all over again and feeling good regarding my batting,” he added.

Virat Kohli's message to his critics: 'I have played 14 years and it doesn't happen by chance'

Rohit Sharma-led India failed to defend a competitive 181/7 versus Pakistan in their Super Four face-off at the Asia Cup, in the UAE, on Sunday (September 04). Being asked to bat first, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, India rode on Virat Kohli's 44-ball 60 before Md Rizwan-Md Nawaz's blazing knocks and cameos from Asif Ali-Khushil Shah led to Pakistan's thrilling five-wicket win in the&nbsp;continental tournament.

After the defeat, many raised fingers at Arshdeep Singh for dropping one of the easiest catches -- in the 18th over to give a reprieve to Asif Ali -- whereas the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (giving away 19 runs in the penultimate over) and India's middle order batters also got criticised. Moreover, fingers were also pointed out at Rohit's usage of bowlers. Some feel he could've brought back Bhuvi early for his final spell whereas the others didn't agree with him recalling inexperienced spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the 18th over (despite him nearly producing a wicket of Asif before Arshdeep's blunder). However, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has fully backed Hitman and feels Rohit knows how to rotate his bowlers.

“A captain can be tested on two things, especially how he handles the bowler, especially when the bowlers are new and when you are defending too. These two times you get to realise and I have seen time and again Rohit Sharma is a fantastic leader. He manages the bowlers really well, he knows when to play which bowler,” Pathan said while speaking on Star Sports show ‘Follow the Blues’.

“Made Bishnoi bowl an over during the power play, he had taken a wicket but he still kept him waiting, did not let him bowl another over and got him again after Chahal’s over as he knows Bishnoi is a different kind of bowler, not a typical leg spin bowler, doesn’t bowl side arm so it was difficult for Pakistan to read his bowling style that is why he had given just 8 runs off his first two overs," Pathan added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-you-are-brave-enough-shami-blasts-jobless-trollers-slamming-arshdeep-after-indo-pak-showdown-513220">'If you are brave enough...' - Shami blasts 'jobless' trolls slamming Arshdeep after Indo-Pak showdown</a>

“Rohit Sharma manages the team very well and I hope that when the whole team is back, having Bumrah, Harshal Patel we’ll get to see a better performance from team India which we want to see specially if you see it from the lens of the World Cup,” Pathan further asserted while hoping for the Men in Blue to improve and produce better results with the return of injured pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel.

India's journey at the Asia Cup has been dented by the Pakistan defeat. They will now face Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, respectively, in their remaining encounters in the Super Four in a bid to qualify for the final. Will Rohit guide India to the summit clash? Only time will tell...

Rohit Sharma-led India failed to defend a competitive 181/7 versus Pakistan in their Super Four face-off at the Asia Cup, in the UAE, on Sunday (September 04). Being asked to bat first, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, India rode on Virat Kohli's 44-ball 60 before Md Rizwan-Md Nawaz's blazing knocks and cameos from Asif Ali-Khushil Shah led to Pakistan's thrilling five-wicket win in the continental tournament.

Rohit Sharma-led India failed to defend a competitive 181/7 versus Pakistan in their Super Four face-off at the Asia Cup, in the UAE, on Sunday (September 04). Being asked to bat first, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, India rode on Virat Kohli's 44-ball 60 before Md Rizwan-Md Nawaz's blazing knocks and cameos from Asif Ali-Khushil Shah led to Pakistan's thrilling five-wicket win in the continental tournament. After the defeat, many raised fingers at Arshdeep Singh for dropping one of the easiest catches -- in the 18th over to give a reprieve to Asif Ali -- whereas the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (giving away 19 runs in the penultimate over) and India's middle order batters also got criticised. Moreover, fingers were also pointed out at Rohit's usage of bowlers. Some feel he could've brought back Bhuvi early for his final spell whereas the others didn't agree with him recalling inexperienced spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the 18th over (despite him nearly producing a wicket of Asif before Arshdeep's blunder). However, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has fully backed Hitman and feels Rohit knows how to rotate his bowlers. “A captain can be tested on two things, especially how he handles the bowler, especially when the bowlers are new and when you are defending too. These two times you get to realise and I have seen time and again Rohit Sharma is a fantastic leader. He manages the bowlers really well, he knows when to play which bowler,” Pathan said while speaking on Star Sports show ‘Follow the Blues’. “Made Bishnoi bowl an over during the power play, he had taken a wicket but he still kept him waiting, did not let him bowl another over and got him again after Chahal’s over as he knows Bishnoi is a different kind of bowler, not a typical leg spin bowler, doesn’t bowl side arm so it was difficult for Pakistan to read his bowling style that is why he had given just 8 runs off his first two overs," Pathan added. ALSO READ | 'If you are brave enough...' - Shami blasts 'jobless' trolls slamming Arshdeep after Indo-Pak showdown “Rohit Sharma manages the team very well and I hope that when the whole team is back, having Bumrah, Harshal Patel we’ll get to see a better performance from team India which we want to see specially if you see it from the lens of the World Cup,” Pathan further asserted while hoping for the Men in Blue to improve and produce better results with the return of injured pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel. India's journey at the Asia Cup has been dented by the Pakistan defeat. They will now face Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, respectively, in their remaining encounters in the Super Four in a bid to qualify for the final. Will Rohit guide India to the summit clash? Only time will tell...

'Rohit is a fantastic leader' - Irfan backs Hitman after India's Asia Cup journey dented by Pakistan loss

Rohit Sharma's India lost to Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash in the Super Four clash on Sunday evening (September 04). Being asked to bat first, India rode on Virat Kohli's scintillating 44-ball 60 and other handy knocks from Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul along with some contributions from Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda to post 181-7 before Mohammad Rizwan (71) - Mohammad Nawaz (20-ball 42) and Asif Ali-Khusdil Shah's finishing cameos took Men in Green home on the penultimate ball of the contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.&nbsp;

While many blamed Arshdeep Singh for dropping a sitter in the 18th over of Pakistan's run-chase, some also pointed fingers at Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 19-run penultimate over whereas others slammed the poor shot selections from India's middle-order, comprising Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, for Rohit &amp; Co.'s loss in the Super Four face-off. Former cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Akram also opined on the Indo-Pak battle and weren't impressed with Pant's shot selection.

"Rishabh Pant will be disappointed because that's not his shot, his shot is probably hit it over long-on or deep mid-wicket, you end up hitting over there and get out, absolutely you can take it because that's your strength. Your strength is not reverse-sweeping," Gambhir said in an interaction with Star Sports

"Especially, Gauti, at that stage of the game, there was no need to play that shot. I know he plays that shot in Test cricket, I know he is one of the top players in world cricket but in this stage of the game, that shot wasn't required," Akram mentioned during the same discussion.

Pant only managed a 12-ball 14, going for a reverse sweep off Shabad Khan's bowling before being caught by Asif.

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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also opined on Pant's dismissal and said, "Particularly after what he saw Rohit, Rahul and others were doing. Where were the runs coming? It was down the ground and in the V. It was a beautiful pitch, hats off to the groundsmen, the ball was skidding on to the bat. That's his strength, he can smack it. No boundary is big for Rishabh Pant if he connects it, but that's his area. Absolutely, right."

Pant will be eager to make a bigger contribution in India's remaining Super Four games, where they play Sri Lanka (September 06) and Afghanistan (September 08).&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma's India lost to Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash in the Super Four clash on Sunday evening (September 04). Being asked to bat first, India rode on Virat Kohli's scintillating 44-ball 60 and other handy knocks from Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul along with some contributions from Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda to post 181-7 before Mohammad Rizwan (71) - Mohammad Nawaz (20-ball 42) and Asif Ali-Khusdil Shah's finishing cameos took Men in Green home on the penultimate ball of the contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Rohit Sharma's India lost to Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash in the Super Four clash on Sunday evening (September 04). Being asked to bat first, India rode on Virat Kohli's scintillating 44-ball 60 and other handy knocks from Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul along with some contributions from Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda to post 181-7 before Mohammad Rizwan (71) - Mohammad Nawaz (20-ball 42) and Asif Ali-Khusdil Shah's finishing cameos took Men in Green home on the penultimate ball of the contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. While many blamed Arshdeep Singh for dropping a sitter in the 18th over of Pakistan's run-chase, some also pointed fingers at Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 19-run penultimate over whereas others slammed the poor shot selections from India's middle-order, comprising Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, for Rohit & Co.'s loss in the Super Four face-off. Former cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Akram also opined on the Indo-Pak battle and weren't impressed with Pant's shot selection. "Rishabh Pant will be disappointed because that's not his shot, his shot is probably hit it over long-on or deep mid-wicket, you end up hitting over there and get out, absolutely you can take it because that's your strength. Your strength is not reverse-sweeping," Gambhir said in an interaction with Star Sports "Especially, Gauti, at that stage of the game, there was no need to play that shot. I know he plays that shot in Test cricket, I know he is one of the top players in world cricket but in this stage of the game, that shot wasn't required," Akram mentioned during the same discussion. Pant only managed a 12-ball 14, going for a reverse sweep off Shabad Khan's bowling before being caught by Asif. ALSO READ | Sunil Gavaskar 'surprised' with Rohit-led India's decision to not include Dinesh Karthik for Pakistan tie Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also opined on Pant's dismissal and said, "Particularly after what he saw Rohit, Rahul and others were doing. Where were the runs coming? It was down the ground and in the V. It was a beautiful pitch, hats off to the groundsmen, the ball was skidding on to the bat. That's his strength, he can smack it. No boundary is big for Rishabh Pant if he connects it, but that's his area. Absolutely, right." Pant will be eager to make a bigger contribution in India's remaining Super Four games, where they play Sri Lanka (September 06) and Afghanistan (September 08).

'Your strength is not...' - Gambhir, Akram criticise Pant for poor shot selection in Indo-Pak contest

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said he wants to see Virat Kohli break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries in international cricket. Kohli's form has been under the scanner for a while now but the senior Team India batter has managed to spark a turnaround in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.

Kohli has looked in decent touch in the Asia Cup so far with crucial knocks in India's first two matches against Pakistan and Hong Kong. He bagged a crucial 35-run-knock against Pakistan in the opener and followed it up with a brilliant fifty against Hong Kong to help the Men in Blue bag two wins in a row in the tournament.

Though he looked in good rhythm en route to his 44-ball 59 against Hong Kong, Kohli's innings lacked firepower and he was seen struggling to middle the ball on several occasions. Akhtar agreed Kohli is still not on top of his game and suggested waiting till the T20 World Cup 2022 if the shortest format is still a viable option for him going ahead.

“Virat Kohli hasn't been middling the ball really well. Both innings were quite patchy. He scored 59, I wish him the best. Mera ye hi mashwara hoga Kohli ko ki dekh lo World Cup tak (My only suggestion to Kohli is to just wait till the T20 World Cup), if this format suits your or doesn't suit you. 30 centuries karni hain aur aage (you have to score 30 more centuries),” Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2022-gautam-gambhir-explains-why-india-have-advantage-over-pakistan-in-super-4-clash-512764">Asia Cup 2022 -&nbsp;Gautam Gambhir explains why India have advantage over Pakistan in Super 4 clash</a>

Akhar further backed Kohli to break Tendulkar's record of scoring 100 centuries in international cricket. Tendulkar holds the record for smashing the most number of centuries in international cricket and is the only man in the history of the sport to reach the 100 centuries mark.

With 70 centuries under his belt, Kohli is the closest to Tendulkar's record among the active batters. He is currently behind only Tendulkar and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting (71) in the list of batters with the most centuries in international cricket.

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Akhtar believes Kohli can go on to establish his credentials as the greatest of all time if he can score 30 more centuries in his international career. However, the Pakistan pacer insisted the remaining 30 centuries will be the toughest ones for the senior India batter, who has not scored a ton for Team India since November 2019.

“You can become the greatest player forever. You have to convince yourself that you are the greatest ever. This is going to be the hardest 30 centuries -- if he scores. When he goes to the longest formats, he will get time to settle. Here, he is trying but the time is less, you have to maintain a good strike rate, you have to ensure the team wins,"&nbsp;said Akthar.

"He is positive, he is aggressive.. he is a great player, but I really want him to score a 100 centuries and break Sachin Tendulkar's record. It looks impossible right now, but this man can do it,” he added.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said he wants to see Virat Kohli break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries in international cricket.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said he wants to see Virat Kohli break the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries in international cricket. Kohli's form has been under the scanner for a while now but the senior Team India batter has managed to spark a turnaround in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022. Kohli has looked in decent touch in the Asia Cup so far with crucial knocks in India's first two matches against Pakistan and Hong Kong. He bagged a crucial 35-run-knock against Pakistan in the opener and followed it up with a brilliant fifty against Hong Kong to help the Men in Blue bag two wins in a row in the tournament. Though he looked in good rhythm en route to his 44-ball 59 against Hong Kong, Kohli's innings lacked firepower and he was seen struggling to middle the ball on several occasions. Akhtar agreed Kohli is still not on top of his game and suggested waiting till the T20 World Cup 2022 if the shortest format is still a viable option for him going ahead. “Virat Kohli hasn't been middling the ball really well. Both innings were quite patchy. He scored 59, I wish him the best. Mera ye hi mashwara hoga Kohli ko ki dekh lo World Cup tak (My only suggestion to Kohli is to just wait till the T20 World Cup), if this format suits your or doesn't suit you. 30 centuries karni hain aur aage (you have to score 30 more centuries),” Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel. Also Read: Asia Cup 2022 - Gautam Gambhir explains why India have advantage over Pakistan in Super 4 clash Akhar further backed Kohli to break Tendulkar's record of scoring 100 centuries in international cricket. Tendulkar holds the record for smashing the most number of centuries in international cricket and is the only man in the history of the sport to reach the 100 centuries mark. With 70 centuries under his belt, Kohli is the closest to Tendulkar's record among the active batters. He is currently behind only Tendulkar and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting (71) in the list of batters with the most centuries in international cricket. Also Read: Deepak Hooda in for Ravindra Jadeja? India's predicted playing XI for Asia Cup Super 4 clash against Pakistan Akhtar believes Kohli can go on to establish his credentials as the greatest of all time if he can score 30 more centuries in his international career. However, the Pakistan pacer insisted the remaining 30 centuries will be the toughest ones for the senior India batter, who has not scored a ton for Team India since November 2019. “You can become the greatest player forever. You have to convince yourself that you are the greatest ever. This is going to be the hardest 30 centuries -- if he scores. When he goes to the longest formats, he will get time to settle. Here, he is trying but the time is less, you have to maintain a good strike rate, you have to ensure the team wins," said Akthar. "He is positive, he is aggressive.. he is a great player, but I really want him to score a 100 centuries and break Sachin Tendulkar's record. It looks impossible right now, but this man can do it,” he added.

I really want Virat Kohli to score 100 centuries and break Sachin Tendulkar's record: Shoaib Akhtar

Virat Kohli seems to have found his mojo as he continued his purple patch for Team India in their Super Four clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday (September 04). Kohli looked in fabulous touch as he notched up his second successive half-century in the tournament to help India post a strong total of 181 runs against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium.

Asked to bat first in the all-important clash, India got off to a flying start against Pakistan with openers Rohit Sharma (28) and KL Rahul (28) sharing a 54-run stand for the first wicket. The duo wasted little time in settling down as they went after the Pakistan pacers to give India a good start.

Kohli took control of India's innings after the duo's dismissal in quick succession. While the Men in Blue kept losing wickets from one end, Kohli held the crease firm on the other and looked in sublime touch. He notched up his fifty off just 36 balls and completed his half-century with his signature six off Mohammad Hasnain's bowling.

It was Kohli's second successive fifty in the tournament after his 59-run knock against Hong Kong in India's last game. He remained at the crease till the end but would be disappointed to not have finished well for India as the batting maestro struggled to go big against Haris Rauf in the 20th over.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/doesnt-have-to-be-fifties-or-hundreds-rahul-dravid-urges-critics-to-not-obsess-over-virat-kohlis-stats-512909">'Doesn't have to be fifties or hundreds'- Rahul Dravid urges critics to not obsess over Virat Kohli's stats</a>

He eventually perished after getting run out of the 4th ball while trying to steal a double to finish with 60 off 44 balls laced with 4 fours and a solitary six. With his 60-run-knock against Babar Azam &amp; Co., Kohli pipped Indian skipper Rohit to achieve a major milestone in T20Is.

Kohli now has the most number of fifty-plus scores in the shortest format of the game in men's T20Is. He now has 32 fifty-plus scores in men's T20Is and has gone past Rohit (31). Pakistan captain Babar Azam is at the third spot with 27 fifty-plus scores to his name in T20Is.

Most fifty-plus scores in men's T20I:

Virat Kohli - 32 
Rohit Sharma - 31 
Babar Azam - 27 
David Warner - 23 
Martin Guptill - 22

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With the help of Kohli's 60, India went on to post 181 runs on the board and will be aiming to successfully defend the total to bag their second win in a row against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup. India have gone with two specialist spinners in the playing XI, in the form of Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal in the absence of injured all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

A win against Pakistan tonight will take India one step closer to making it to the final of the tournament.

Virat Kohli seems to have found his mojo as he continued his purple patch for Team India in their Super Four clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday (September 04).

Virat Kohli seems to have found his mojo as he continued his purple patch for Team India in their Super Four clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday (September 04). Kohli looked in fabulous touch as he notched up his second successive half-century in the tournament to help India post a strong total of 181 runs against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. Asked to bat first in the all-important clash, India got off to a flying start against Pakistan with openers Rohit Sharma (28) and KL Rahul (28) sharing a 54-run stand for the first wicket. The duo wasted little time in settling down as they went after the Pakistan pacers to give India a good start. Kohli took control of India's innings after the duo's dismissal in quick succession. While the Men in Blue kept losing wickets from one end, Kohli held the crease firm on the other and looked in sublime touch. He notched up his fifty off just 36 balls and completed his half-century with his signature six off Mohammad Hasnain's bowling. It was Kohli's second successive fifty in the tournament after his 59-run knock against Hong Kong in India's last game. He remained at the crease till the end but would be disappointed to not have finished well for India as the batting maestro struggled to go big against Haris Rauf in the 20th over. Also Read: 'Doesn't have to be fifties or hundreds'- Rahul Dravid urges critics to not obsess over Virat Kohli's stats He eventually perished after getting run out of the 4th ball while trying to steal a double to finish with 60 off 44 balls laced with 4 fours and a solitary six. With his 60-run-knock against Babar Azam & Co., Kohli pipped Indian skipper Rohit to achieve a major milestone in T20Is. Kohli now has the most number of fifty-plus scores in the shortest format of the game in men's T20Is. He now has 32 fifty-plus scores in men's T20Is and has gone past Rohit (31). Pakistan captain Babar Azam is at the third spot with 27 fifty-plus scores to his name in T20Is. Most fifty-plus scores in men's T20I: Virat Kohli - 32 Rohit Sharma - 31 Babar Azam - 27 David Warner - 23 Martin Guptill - 22 Also Read: 'Doesn't have to be fifties or hundreds'- Rahul Dravid urges critics to not obsess over Virat Kohli's stats With the help of Kohli's 60, India went on to post 181 runs on the board and will be aiming to successfully defend the total to bag their second win in a row against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup. India have gone with two specialist spinners in the playing XI, in the form of Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal in the absence of injured all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. A win against Pakistan tonight will take India one step closer to making it to the final of the tournament.

Virat Kohli pips Rohit Sharma to achieve major T20I milestone with brilliant half-century against Pakistan

Virat Kohli has been dealing with an extensive dip in form for quite some time, having gone over 1000 days since he scored an international century.

This dip in form forced him to take a step back from competitive cricket and re-evaluate his mental state before making his way back to active contention.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-see-a-more-dangerous-batter-former-pak-skipper-hails-rishab-pant-as-a-top-4-prospect-512890" hreflang="en">'Don't see a more dangerous batter': Former Pakistan skipper wants Rishabh Pant to bat in Top-4 for India</a>

Based on Kohli's performance in his previous outing in Asia Cup against Hong Kong, a faction of cricket fans believe Kohli may be inching his way back to his former glory. Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid, notably, is one among them.

"It's nice to see that he has come back fresh. He played very well in the last match, and we are happy with his performance. For us, it's not really about how many runs he makes," Dravid said in a recent media interaction.

Discussing Kohli's impact on India's batting order, Dravid maintained that he still played a vital role. He further admitted that fans focussed too much on his statistics and scores.&nbsp;

"Especially with Virat, people get a little bit obsessed with his statistics and his numbers. For us, it's not really about that.&nbsp;For us, it's about the contributions he can make in different phases of the game and what the contribution is.

"It doesn't have to be in fifties or hundreds or a stat.&nbsp;Even small contributions mean a lot in T20 cricket, what is the role of a player and what the team needs.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/just-another-game-suryakumar-yadav-downplays-immense-hype-surrounding-india-pakistan-rivalry-512868" hreflang="en">'Just another game': Suryakumar Yadav downplays immense hype surrounding India-Pakistan rivalry</a>

"Virat is pretty keen in putting in big performances. Hopefully he can keep doing that in the tournament," admitted Dravid.

Dravid will hope for his faith in Kohli's abilities to be repaid in the form of results as India take on their arch-nemeses Pakistan in a rematch.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli has been dealing with an extensive dip in form for quite some time, having gone over 1000 days since he scored an international century. This dip in form forced him to take a step back from competitive cricket and re-evaluate his mental state before making his way back to active contention.

Virat Kohli has been dealing with an extensive dip in form for quite some time, having gone over 1000 days since he scored an international century. This dip in form forced him to take a step back from competitive cricket and re-evaluate his mental state before making his way back to active contention. ALSO READ: 'Don't see a more dangerous batter': Former Pakistan skipper wants Rishabh Pant to bat in Top-4 for India Based on Kohli's performance in his previous outing in Asia Cup against Hong Kong, a faction of cricket fans believe Kohli may be inching his way back to his former glory. Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid, notably, is one among them. "It's nice to see that he has come back fresh. He played very well in the last match, and we are happy with his performance. For us, it's not really about how many runs he makes," Dravid said in a recent media interaction. Discussing Kohli's impact on India's batting order, Dravid maintained that he still played a vital role. He further admitted that fans focussed too much on his statistics and scores. "Especially with Virat, people get a little bit obsessed with his statistics and his numbers. For us, it's not really about that. For us, it's about the contributions he can make in different phases of the game and what the contribution is. "It doesn't have to be in fifties or hundreds or a stat. Even small contributions mean a lot in T20 cricket, what is the role of a player and what the team needs. ALSO READ: 'Just another game': Suryakumar Yadav downplays immense hype surrounding India-Pakistan rivalry "Virat is pretty keen in putting in big performances. Hopefully he can keep doing that in the tournament," admitted Dravid. Dravid will hope for his faith in Kohli's abilities to be repaid in the form of results as India take on their arch-nemeses Pakistan in a rematch.

'Doesn't have to be fifties or hundreds'- Rahul Dravid urges critics to not obsess over Virat Kohli's stats

Virat Kohli's form has been under the scanner for quite a while now as he is yet to attain consistency for the Indian team across formats. Recently, there were calls for his ouster from India's T20 squad over his poor form but the senior batter has managed to shut his critics to an extent with his performances in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.

Making his comeback for the Indian team after a short break, Kohli looked in good touch as he notched up a crucial 35-run-knock against Pakistan and followed it up with a brilliant half-century against Hong Kong on Thursday. However, despite his crucial contributions with&nbsp;the willow, Kohli has been under immense scrutiny.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif recently spoke about Kohli's recent struggles in international cricket and claimed he has never been a 'great' T20 player. Latif believes Kohli can never be compared with someone like Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar in T20s considering his inability to go after the bowlers from the word go.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-are-pampered-because-they-make-more-money-not-because-they-play-well-mohammad-hafeez-512564"> India 'pampered' since they make more money, not because they play well: Mohammad Hafeez</a>

Latif believes Kohli's game is best suited for an anchor's role in T20s as he takes his time in settling down before shifting gears in the middle. Latif said the likes of Rohit can utilise the Powerplay well and go after the bowlers right from the start of the innings.

"Virat Kohli has never been a great T20 player. We compare him to the likes of Kane Williamson, Joe Root or Steve Smith but none of them have been match-winning players in T20s. These all take the game along, playing an anchor role. Virat Kohli is a great ODI player. He cannot become Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar Yadav," Latif said on YouTube show 'Game On Hai'.

"He plays in the same fashion for Royal Challengers Bangalore as well. MS Dhoni is a different kind of player, if he plays 3-4 dot balls, he can hit 3-4 sixes as well. He can make up for the dot balls. Virat Kohli starts hitting after playing 30-35 balls. Rohit Sharma is the kind of player who utilises the powerplay very well," explained the former Pakistan captain.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-just-hope-to-see-virat-kohli-back-at-his-best-in-t20-world-cup-says-ricky-ponting-512342">I just hope to see Virat Kohli back at his best in T20 World Cup, says Ricky Ponting</a>

Contrary to Latif's claims, Kohli has been one of the most prolific run-getters in T20Is. With his 59-run-knock against Hong Kong on Thursday, the Indian batting maestro had become the highest averaging player in the shortest format in international cricket. Kohli has 3,402 runs to his name in 101 T20Is at a stunning average of 50.77.

He is the third-highest run-getter overall in T20Is behind only teammate Rohit Sharma and New Zealand's Martin Guptill. Kohli will be seen in action next when India take on Pakistan for the second time in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday (September 04).

Virat Kohli's form has been under the scanner for quite a while now as he is yet to attain consistency for the Indian team across formats. Recently, there were calls for his ouster from India's T20 squad over his poor form but the senior batter has managed to shut his critics to an extent with his performances in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.

Virat Kohli's form has been under the scanner for quite a while now as he is yet to attain consistency for the Indian team across formats. Recently, there were calls for his ouster from India's T20 squad over his poor form but the senior batter has managed to shut his critics to an extent with his performances in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022. Making his comeback for the Indian team after a short break, Kohli looked in good touch as he notched up a crucial 35-run-knock against Pakistan and followed it up with a brilliant half-century against Hong Kong on Thursday. However, despite his crucial contributions with the willow, Kohli has been under immense scrutiny. Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif recently spoke about Kohli's recent struggles in international cricket and claimed he has never been a 'great' T20 player. Latif believes Kohli can never be compared with someone like Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar in T20s considering his inability to go after the bowlers from the word go. Also Read: India 'pampered' since they make more money, not because they play well: Mohammad Hafeez Latif believes Kohli's game is best suited for an anchor's role in T20s as he takes his time in settling down before shifting gears in the middle. Latif said the likes of Rohit can utilise the Powerplay well and go after the bowlers right from the start of the innings. "Virat Kohli has never been a great T20 player. We compare him to the likes of Kane Williamson, Joe Root or Steve Smith but none of them have been match-winning players in T20s. These all take the game along, playing an anchor role. Virat Kohli is a great ODI player. He cannot become Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar Yadav," Latif said on YouTube show 'Game On Hai'. "He plays in the same fashion for Royal Challengers Bangalore as well. MS Dhoni is a different kind of player, if he plays 3-4 dot balls, he can hit 3-4 sixes as well. He can make up for the dot balls. Virat Kohli starts hitting after playing 30-35 balls. Rohit Sharma is the kind of player who utilises the powerplay very well," explained the former Pakistan captain. Also Read: I just hope to see Virat Kohli back at his best in T20 World Cup, says Ricky Ponting Contrary to Latif's claims, Kohli has been one of the most prolific run-getters in T20Is. With his 59-run-knock against Hong Kong on Thursday, the Indian batting maestro had become the highest averaging player in the shortest format in international cricket. Kohli has 3,402 runs to his name in 101 T20Is at a stunning average of 50.77. He is the third-highest run-getter overall in T20Is behind only teammate Rohit Sharma and New Zealand's Martin Guptill. Kohli will be seen in action next when India take on Pakistan for the second time in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday (September 04).

Virat Kohli has never been a great T20 player, he can't be like Rohit or Suryakumar, says ex-Pakistan captain

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting wants to see Virat Kohli return to form and be at his best in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 later this year. Kohli is currently in action for India in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE where he has shown glimpses of his prime past with two useful knocks against Pakistan and Hong Kong, respectively.

Kohli made his comeback for Team India in the Asia Cup after a month-long break as he was rested from India's tour of West Indies and Zimbabwe amid questions over his spot in the T20I team. All eyes were on the senior batter on his comeback against Pakistan amid debates over his poor form.

While he couldn't notch up a big knock, Kohli made a crucial contribution with 35 runs to help India beat Pakistan and get off to a winning start. He followed it up with a brilliant half-century against Hong Kong. Speaking about Kohli's revival, Ponting said he was pleased to see the Indian batting maestri back among the runs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-sri-lankan-player-does-bizarre-dance-to-mock-bangladesh-after-knocking-them-out-of-asia-cup-2022-512311">WATCH: Sri Lankan player does bizarre dance to mock Bangladesh after knocking them out of Asia Cup 2022</a>

"First and foremost, great to see him back in the runs. No surprise that he did it in a run chase. We’ve always known that about him. His record suggests he is better when his team is chasing runs," Ponting said on the latest ICC review after Kohli's performance against Pakistan.

The Australian cricket legend also spoke about Kohli's recent revelations regarding his mental health struggles and said the senior India batter is playing with more freedom now. Kohli had recently revealed for the first time in ten years, that he didn't touch his bat even once during his one-month break away from cricket.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-scope-of-taking-a-chance-sunil-gavaskar-issues-warning-to-struggling-kl-rahul-ahead-of-t20-wc-2022-512274">'No scope of taking a chance': Sunil Gavaskar issues warning to struggling KL Rahul ahead of T20 WC 2022</a>

Ponting&nbsp;wishes to see Kohli at his best in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia and be one of the best players in the tournament.

"When I saw his runs and then I've read on social media over the last few days, it sounded like he found himself in quite a dark place. Like a lot of us men, he wasn’t willing to talk about it and share it," said the former Australia captain.

“It sounds like when he has started to share, started to talk, it might have just freed him up a bit and he started to feel better about himself again.

"I just hope that we see him back at his best and in the World Cup. I’d rather see Virat come out here (in Australia) and be one of the leading players in the tournament, but just make sure he doesn’t score many runs against Australia when they play," he added.

Kohli will look to continue his fine form with the willow when India lock horns with the winner of the match between Pakistan and Hong Kong in the Super 4 on Sunday (September 04).

&nbsp;

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting wants to see Virat Kohli return to form and be at his best in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 later this year. Kohli is currently in action for India in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE where he has shown glimpses of his prime past with two useful knocks against Pakistan and Hong Kong, respectively.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting wants to see Virat Kohli return to form and be at his best in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 later this year. Kohli is currently in action for India in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE where he has shown glimpses of his prime past with two useful knocks against Pakistan and Hong Kong, respectively. Kohli made his comeback for Team India in the Asia Cup after a month-long break as he was rested from India's tour of West Indies and Zimbabwe amid questions over his spot in the T20I team. All eyes were on the senior batter on his comeback against Pakistan amid debates over his poor form. While he couldn't notch up a big knock, Kohli made a crucial contribution with 35 runs to help India beat Pakistan and get off to a winning start. He followed it up with a brilliant half-century against Hong Kong. Speaking about Kohli's revival, Ponting said he was pleased to see the Indian batting maestri back among the runs. Also Read: WATCH: Sri Lankan player does bizarre dance to mock Bangladesh after knocking them out of Asia Cup 2022 "First and foremost, great to see him back in the runs. No surprise that he did it in a run chase. We’ve always known that about him. His record suggests he is better when his team is chasing runs," Ponting said on the latest ICC review after Kohli's performance against Pakistan. The Australian cricket legend also spoke about Kohli's recent revelations regarding his mental health struggles and said the senior India batter is playing with more freedom now. Kohli had recently revealed for the first time in ten years, that he didn't touch his bat even once during his one-month break away from cricket. Also Read: 'No scope of taking a chance': Sunil Gavaskar issues warning to struggling KL Rahul ahead of T20 WC 2022 Ponting wishes to see Kohli at his best in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia and be one of the best players in the tournament. "When I saw his runs and then I've read on social media over the last few days, it sounded like he found himself in quite a dark place. Like a lot of us men, he wasn’t willing to talk about it and share it," said the former Australia captain. “It sounds like when he has started to share, started to talk, it might have just freed him up a bit and he started to feel better about himself again. "I just hope that we see him back at his best and in the World Cup. I’d rather see Virat come out here (in Australia) and be one of the leading players in the tournament, but just make sure he doesn’t score many runs against Australia when they play," he added. Kohli will look to continue his fine form with the willow when India lock horns with the winner of the match between Pakistan and Hong Kong in the Super 4 on Sunday (September 04).

I just hope to see Virat Kohli back at his best in T20 World Cup, says Ricky Ponting

Australian cricketing icon Ricky Ponting recently offered fans some insight into his personal struggles with mental health while discussing the issues that Virat Kohli has faced in recent times.

Virat Kohli, who was previously quite outspoken about the essence of mental health awareness, was forced to take a step back and recoup before making his way back to active contention in the latest edition of the Asia Cup. The break from cricket was prompted by a need for some rest for Kohli, who is currently experiencing a century drought.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-reveals-pakistans-gameplan-to-outclass-india-hails-new-comer-naseem-shah-for-performance-511826" hreflang="en">Babar Azam reveals Pakistan's gameplan to outclass India, hails new-comer Naseem Shah for performance</a>

During an interaction on the ICC Review, Ponting admitted that he had faced a similar situation back in the day, albeit at a much lower scale. However, he assured fans, and Kohli, that it was a very normal part of life to experience such issues.

"I sort of faced it in the last couple of years of my career where my career tapered off quite quickly... It was almost, the harder I work, the worse I got. I was so focused and conscious on being perfect and doing things exactly right, thinking I had to do that to get the best out of myself, but all I was doing was putting pressure on myself and not letting myself play the game the way I always played it. I reckon it might be a bit of that creeping in with Virat as well.

"It's just human nature when things aren't going the way you want, you push harder, you try harder, and the harder you try the harder it gets," Ponting asserted.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-makes-t20i-history-becomes-the-first-player-to-reach-3500-runs-511866" hreflang="en">Rohit Sharma makes T20I history, becomes the first player to reach 3500 runs</a>

The 47-year-old subsequently admitted that taking a month off is something that will truly have helped Kohli get his thoughts in order and make a triumphant return to the cricket pitch.

His first match against Pakistan was no memorable outing for the former Indian skipper, he put on an impressive performance against Hong Kong, recording a long-awaited half-century. Although this may not necessarily mean that the Kohli that fans knew and loved is back, it certainly means that things are moving in the right direction.&nbsp;

Australian cricketing icon Ricky Ponting recently offered fans some insight into his personal struggles with mental health while discussing the issues that Virat Kohli has faced in recent times.

Australian cricketing icon Ricky Ponting recently offered fans some insight into his personal struggles with mental health while discussing the issues that Virat Kohli has faced in recent times. Virat Kohli, who was previously quite outspoken about the essence of mental health awareness, was forced to take a step back and recoup before making his way back to active contention in the latest edition of the Asia Cup. The break from cricket was prompted by a need for some rest for Kohli, who is currently experiencing a century drought. ALSO READ: Babar Azam reveals Pakistan's gameplan to outclass India, hails new-comer Naseem Shah for performance During an interaction on the ICC Review, Ponting admitted that he had faced a similar situation back in the day, albeit at a much lower scale. However, he assured fans, and Kohli, that it was a very normal part of life to experience such issues. "I sort of faced it in the last couple of years of my career where my career tapered off quite quickly... It was almost, the harder I work, the worse I got. I was so focused and conscious on being perfect and doing things exactly right, thinking I had to do that to get the best out of myself, but all I was doing was putting pressure on myself and not letting myself play the game the way I always played it. I reckon it might be a bit of that creeping in with Virat as well. "It's just human nature when things aren't going the way you want, you push harder, you try harder, and the harder you try the harder it gets," Ponting asserted. ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma makes T20I history, becomes the first player to reach 3500 runs The 47-year-old subsequently admitted that taking a month off is something that will truly have helped Kohli get his thoughts in order and make a triumphant return to the cricket pitch. His first match against Pakistan was no memorable outing for the former Indian skipper, he put on an impressive performance against Hong Kong, recording a long-awaited half-century. Although this may not necessarily mean that the Kohli that fans knew and loved is back, it certainly means that things are moving in the right direction.

'Just human nature'- Ricky Ponting recalls his mental health issues as he rallies behind Virat Kohli

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