Pakistan captain Babar Azam revealed on Monday that his team is meticulously planning their strategies to counter the formidable presence of star Indian batsman Virat Kohli in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup showdown between the two cricketing giants.
The much-anticipated clash is set to ignite passions as it unfolds in the vibrant atmosphere of the West Indies/USA later this year.
Speaking ahead of his team's T20I series against Ireland scheduled to commence on May 10, comprising three exhilarating matches to be held in Dublin, Babar emphasized the significance of devising a comprehensive game plan to neutralize Kohli's impact on the field.
The marquee encounter between Pakistan and India, slated for June 9 in New York, promises to be a spectacle for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Recalling the intensity of their previous T20 Cup encounter in 2022, Babar reminisced about Kohli's memorable innings, where he orchestrated a remarkable unbeaten knock of 82 runs off just 53 deliveries.
Kohli's masterclass, which included six boundaries and four towering sixes, steered India through a nerve-wracking run-chase of 160, rescuing them from a precarious position of 31/4 at one juncture with Hardik Pandya.
Speaking at the media conference in Dublin on Monday, Babar said that though the team does not plan against one particular player, but they will be planning against Kohli, who he called as "one of the best players."
"As a team, you always plan against different teams and according to their strengths. We do not plan anything against one player. We plan for all 11 players. We do not know much about the conditions in New York and we will plan accordingly. He [Virat Kohli] is one of the best players and we will plan against him as well," he said.
Kohli's prowess against Pakistan in T20Is is nothing short of remarkable. Across 10 encounters, he has amassed a staggering total of 488 runs, boasting an impressive average of 81.33 and a blistering strike rate exceeding 123.
Kohli's consistency is evident in his tally of five half-centuries against the arch-rivals, showcasing his ability to dominate the opposition's bowling attack with ease.
In the T20 WC, India and Pakistan are in Group A alongside Ireland, Canada, and the USA. Pakistan will start its campaign against the USA on June 6.
Here is the schedule for Pakistan's tour to Ireland and England ahead of the T20 World Cup:
Ireland series: May 10: First T20I, Dublin; May 12 Second T20I, Dublin; May 14: Third T20I, Dublin
England series: May 22: First T20I, Leeds; May 25: Second T20I, Birmingham; May 28: Third T20I, Cardiff; May 30: Fourth T20I, London.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (C), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.
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