IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2022: Former India captain Virat Kohli may be going through a prolonged lean patch but competing against a cricketer like him is extremely challenging and one has to be on top of his game to match the Indian star, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said in Dubai on Saturday (August 27).
“Nothing is easy in life. There are challenges everywhere. It is up to you how you achieve things in life and how you overcome the challenges you face. Virat is still one of the best batters world cricket,” Babar said on the eve of the blockbuster Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan. “How you compete against a player like him, and that too in different conditions, is very important.”
Kohli, once again, found support from the Pakistani star batter, who indicated that an athlete has to be really strong to overcome failures. “Every cricketer, if you ask me, faces ups and downs in their career. It's not that there is only success and no failures. You really need a strong mindset to handle things in life that often do not go in your favour,” Babar said.
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Listen to the encouraging words from our captain #AsiaCup2022 | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/odSavfgKO6
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 27, 2022
Babar Azam: Last year’s T20 World Cup win is a thing of past
While Pakistan humbled India in last year’s T20 World Cup, and registered their first-ever World Cup win over their arch-rivals, Babar dismissed suggestions that Sunday’s match between the two teams will be one-sided just like that game. “Honestly, that game is a thing of past now. It won’t have an impact on Sunday’s match. I am completely focused on tomorrow’s game. The teams are kind of different, the conditions are different. Although as a side we are confident, we won’t talk big ahead of the game. We wish to prove it on the field. As a captain, I am ready to give my 100 percent,” he said.
“Every cricket lover around the world waits for this clash. We, as cricketers also enjoy taking part in it. Both the teams try their best to keep their respective fans happy.”
‘Love interacting with the Indian players’
The Pakistan captain candidly said that he enjoys interacting with the Indian cricketers before they square up in big tournaments. “Yes, we love interacting with them. As cricketers, it is important we do that. I think it is pretty normal thing to do that. We do the same with the other teams as well,” Babar said.
(with PTI inputs)
