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India and Pakistan are set to renew their storied rivalry as they face off on June 9 in a Group A encounter of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The upcoming match will add yet another chapter to the longstanding competition between the two cricketing powerhouses. In their previous T20 World Cup encounter, the clash between these two teams produced a thrilling spectacle. Virat Kohli’s masterful innings stole the spotlight, with his unbeaten 82 off 53 balls guiding India to a remarkable victory. This unforgettable match unfolded at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2022 T20 World Cup, showcasing Kohli’s brilliance and India’s resilience as they chased down a challenging target of 160 runs on the final delivery of the game.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq emphasizes the significance of facing a seasoned campaigner like Kohli in the upcoming high-stakes clash against India in New York. He identifies Kohli as the foremost challenge that Babar Azam and his team will need to confront during the pivotal match.
“Subse badi rukawat Virat Kohli honge (The biggest hurdle will be Virat Kohli),” Misbah said on Star Sports. “It doesn’t matter if there’s Yashasvi Jaiswal who has a good strike-rate. There are other good players too but he’s (Kohli) the one who has time and again handled such pressure. These are the players you have to think about first. The biggest danger to Pakistan has always been Virat Kohli. The pressure of an India-Pakistan match is different or a knockout match. Then you need experienced players. That’s his job.”
Misbah also believes that Pakistan must devise a strategy to neutralize Jasprit Bumrah’s impact, as he possesses the ability to deliver the crucial initial blow.
“It’s very important how they handle Jasprit Bumrah because he’s the one who can land the initial punch,” Misbah said.
“As far as batting is concerned Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (will be the key). You have young players who are skillful but for an India-Pakistan match, the player who has in the past been a match-winner makes the difference because he knows how to handle pressure,” he added.
