Really want Virat Kohli to come back in form, I’m a big fan: Hong Kong skipper Nizakat Khan

Nizakat Khan, the captain of Hong Kong, said that he is a great fan of former India skipper Virat Kohli and wishes that the ace batter return to form soon. The 33-year-old has not managed to perform well in the international arena for quite some time, and his performances have declined. His last international century came back in 2019, and the batting maestro has been struggling to bounce back stronger.

This year, though, things became a little more challenging for him because he was unable to consistently produce half-centuries. After taking a mental health sabbatical and skipping the tours of Zimbabwe and the West Indies, Kohli is back with the Indian team for the Asia Cup in 2022. In India’s first game against Pakistan on Sunday, August 28, Kohli played a composed knock after initially surviving a scare.

India eventually won the contest in a nail-biting thriller, and the Hong Kong skipper was very impressed with Kohli’s game. “I am a big fan of Virat Kohli, he played well against Pakistan, we really want him to come back in form & score lots of runs," Nizakat told News 24 Sports.

India will be facing Hong Kong in their next game of the group stage on Wednesday, August 31. When the two teams last faced off in the Asia Cup 2018, it was a close match that India won by 26 runs despite Hong Kong's valiant efforts in pursuing a 286-run mark. Ahead of the match, the Hong Kong captain expressed confidence and noted that any outcome could be possible in the game.

“We lost by just 20 runs when we last faced India at the Asia Cup in 2018. Anything can happen in a T20 game. You don’t when a bowler can deliver a good spell, or a batter hits some quick runs in a couple of overs," he added.

We will go with positive body language: Nizakat Khan

Hong Kong defeated UAE in the finals of the Asia Cup Qualifiers and reserved a spot in Group A alongside India and Pakistan. They will be facing both India and Pakistan once, and the top two teams from the group will enter the super four. Nizakat went on to say that his side will step into the game with a positive mindset to imitate the affiliate teams that have successfully upset big sides in T20I cricket.

“We have seen in the past too how even the top sides have lost against associate teams. We will go with positive body language and will stick to our process," he concluded.