Former Pakistan cricketer Misbah-ul-Haq has praised Virat Kohli for his mental dominance, particularly in T20 cricket, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Misbah acknowledged Kohli’s exceptional mindset and mental toughness, emphasizing the challenges opponents face when confronting him on the field. India will face Pakistan on June 9, in New York.
In an exclusive talk with India Today during the Star Sports Press Room Show, Misbah discussed the mentality of players when facing opponents they’ve had success against in the past. He noted that India has emerged victorious in 6 out of 7 encounters against Pakistan in T20 World Cups.
“Players have a muscle memory, and it is in their minds when they take on an opposition against whom they perform well. Your impact always stays strong in those matches and it affects the opposition as well. Virat Kohli has that edge, the way in initial matches he performed against other teams and Pakistan he damaged the team by playing crucial innings,” Misbah said.
Kohli has historically been a formidable opponent for Pakistan in T20 World Cups. In their most recent encounter during the 2022 T20 World Cup, Kohli delivered one of his finest T20 innings at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. His unbeaten 53-ball knock of 82* played a pivotal role in India’s thrilling victory.
Misbah suggested that Kohli appears to be particularly motivated whenever he faces Pakistan, displaying heightened determination and intensity.
“Virat Kohli holds a mental supremacy over Pakistan. He would feel more confident in those situations while playing against Pakistan and much more charged up.”
“He is that kind of player, the bigger the opportunity, rather than taking pressure, he takes motivation from that. He is a top-class cricketer and he can perform against any opposition. There is only one way, the way he was dismissed initially in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan or any other team has to get him out,” Misbah said.
