The return of Ravi Ashwin was the biggest positive for us from Afghanistan clash: Virat Kohli

Ravichandran Ashwin found a place in the Indian playing XI in a T20I match for the first time in more than 4 years in the clash between India and Afghanistan on 3rd November 2021. Before the T20 World Cup match against Mohammad Nabi and his men, Ashwin had last played a T20I match way back in July 2017.

Ashwin produced a superb performance with the ball, giving away just 14 runs in his 4 overs, and also picked up a couple of wickets as well, and helped the Indian side thrash their opponents by 66 runs.

And now, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has heaped praises on Ashwin. Kohli said that Ashwin’s return was the biggest positive for the Indian side from the Afghanistan game, as the senior off-spinner has worked hard for it. Adding that Ashwin showed a lot of control in the IPL as well, Kohli reckoned that the 35-year-old off-spinner is a smart bowler.

“The return of Ash was the biggest positive, it was something he has worked really hard for. He (Ashwin) showed this control and rhythm in the IPL as well. He’s a wicket-taker and a smart bowler as well,” said Kohli after the match between India and Afghanistan.

We have to focus on the small chance we have to qualify for the semi-finals: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli also added that the Indian players will focus on the small chance that they still have to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament and will try and hunt that chance down. The 32-year-old Kohli also said that the Indian players are extremely skillful. The Indian skipper concluded by stating that both Pakistan and New Zealand bowled well in India’s first 2 matches.

“We spoke in the team meeting that we have to focus on the small chance we have (to qualify) and stay positive and hunt that chance down. We don’t decide we’re going all out.  We back the guys because they’re so skillful, and sometimes it comes off like today. To give credit to the opposition, they bowled really well in the first two matches and didn’t let us get away,” concluded Virat Kohli.