There had been signs of Virat Kohli returning to some in the game against Pakistan on Sunday in Asia Cup 2022. Today, on Wednesday, Kohli broke his rut of low scores and finally managed a fifty, against Hong Kong in Dubai.
Against Pakistan, after being dropped at second slip on zero, Kohli went on to score 35 runs off 34 balls, a knock which in isolation doesn’t look good in T20 cricket but was crucial in India’s victory while chasing 148.
Virat Kohli scores fifty for the first time in international cricket after IPL 2022
Against Hong Kong, Kohli became the first batsman in the Asia Cup 2022 to notch up a fifty. He is now also the leading run-scorer of the tournament so far. Not bad for someone who is labelled to be out of form. This half-century against Hong Kong comes as a big relief for Kohli after his horrific England tour last month where he couldn’t go past 20 in any of his 6 innings.’
Today, Kohli scored 59 unbeaten runs in 44 balls. In his innings, he creamed one boundary but also hit 3 disdainfully struck sixers, finishing with a strike rate of 134. Overall, in two innings he has 94 runs at a massive average of 94 (since he’s been dismissed once).
Suryakumar Yadav’s assault takes India to 192
Kohli was involved in two partnerships today: 56(49) with KL Rahul he was the one who was the enforcer one as Rahul batted slowly and sluggishly trying to find his way back into form; and then with Suryakumar Yadav, Kohli shared a stand of 98 runs off 42 balls, where it was SKY who was at his best, doing most of the work by smashing 68 runs off 26 balls, but Kohli too flexed his muscles in that partnership, scoring 26 runs in 16 balls.
Kohli and SKY took India to a massive total of 192, which is all but certain to prove too much for Hong Kong.
Check out the reactions of fans to the half-century of Virat Kohli:
Fifty for Virat Kohli, 31st in T20I, 50* from 40 balls – Well played, King. pic.twitter.com/h5orbuIawN
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 31, 2022
Virat Kohli has the highest average in T20I history (min 20 innings).
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 31, 2022
The average of Virat Kohli reached 50 in T20I.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 31, 2022
https://twitter.com/chiragparmar149/status/1564184200852676610?s=20&t=qwuidEvfuxTDsq8jso35NA
Virat Kohli doing what he does the best! 🤩
📸: BCCI | #INDvHK #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/fk3H2KLrtv
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 31, 2022
Just a Reminder, Virat Kohli now has Highest ever batting Average in T20is (50.7) 🐐 pic.twitter.com/KBFvtj1dWI
— Pranjal (@Pranjal_one8) August 31, 2022
Bowed to 17 yo sarfaraz back in 2015, now to SKY. The way he appreciates his teamates. Arrogant @imVkohli for you pic.twitter.com/S9psl8N0AP
— A (@_shortarmjab_) August 31, 2022
Half century for @imVkohli. Not his most fluent, came against minnows Hong Kong, but in the context of his travails, so, so important!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 31, 2022
Virat Kohli is now currently the highest run scorer in the Asia cup.! That's the tweet.!
— Anupam Bhaumik (@ittzz_spidey) August 31, 2022
Virat Kohli looking goooooooddddd. #INDvsHK
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 31, 2022
The 'out of form' Virat Kohli is now currently the highest run scorer in the Asia cup 2022.! Milestones aren't everything. He was, he is and he will always be the biggest batting superstar of the cricketing world. #ViratKohli𓃵 #GOAT pic.twitter.com/Ou2pRvsJgA
— Unnati Madan (@unnati_madan) August 31, 2022
