'He will need to perform by hook or by crook'- Danish Kaneria explains why Virat Kohli must regain lost mojo in Asia Cup 2022

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has urged Virat Kohli to perform with the bat by hook or by crook in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 starting August 27. India begin their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on the 28th.

Kohli has witnessed a slump in form in the last couple of years and has not scored a century since November 2019. Even though he has managed to register a few half-centuries, the batting megastar has looked far from his best. Meanwhile, there have also been a few instances of him getting out cheaply.

Virat Kohli will need to come back with a bang: Danish Kaneria

“If Kohli wants to be considered for the T20 World Cup, he will need to come back with a bang. He will need to perform by hook or by crook. You can’t have such huge baggage with the team and then to bench him will also be incredibly tough. Pakistan will hope that Kohli’s form slump continues because if he gets back his mojo, he will be dangerous,” said Kaneria on his YouTube channel.

Virat failed to make his bat do the talking in last month’s bilateral series against England. He only managed scores of one and 11 in the two T20Is that he featured in and then scored 16 and 17 in the ODI series that followed.

The batting icon was then given a break and did not take part in the limited-overs series against the West Indies comprising three ODIs and five T20Is. The former skipper has been given an extended break now from the three One Day Internationals against Zimbabwe starting August 18 where KL Rahul will be leading the Men in Blue.

The 33-year-old will next be seen in action against Pakistan and he would be hoping to make a statement on the 22 yards against the lethal Pakistani bowling attack spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi who had accounted for India’s famed top-order including Kohli the last time when these two teams had locked horns at the very same venue.