Former India opener Gautam Gambhir heaped praise on Virat Kohli, saying the good start to Asia Cup 2022 campaign will give the former captain self-belief to hit peak form and contribute to the senior national team more in the T20I format of the game.
Gambhir said the 44-ball 59 not out against Hong Kong will only boost Virat Kohli’s confidence and that runs are runs, regardless of the quality of the opposition bowling attack. Gambhir also pointed out that the time spent in the middle will be a big boost to the senior campaigner who was struggling for form in the lead-up to the Asia Cup campaign in the UAE.
“I thought Virat Kohli’s form was very important. He did not score the runs as quickly as we would have wanted him to but it was important for him to spend time in the middle. This fifty… see a fifty is a fifty, a run is a run, regardless of the opponent. Scoring runs in the middle, in a match situation, is very important. How much ever net practice you do, but nothing can give you as much confidence as scoring runs in the middle,” Gambhir told Star Sports after India’s 40-run win over Hong Kong.
“I believe that will only get better from hereon, his self-belief will grow and we will be able to see better performances from him,” he added.
Gambhir pointed out that Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were not able to get going on the pitch where Kohli ground his way out to score his 31st T20I fifty.
“You have to work hard in the middle to get runs. Regardless of the opposition, runs are runs. Rohit Sharma also got an opportunity, KL Rahul also got an opportunity but it was Virat Kohli who scored a sixty-odd. The hard work that he is putting in the middle will give him confidence,” he added.
