Virat Kohli is in the form of his life, scoring runs for fun in all formats and all conditions.
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He was at his best during India’s grand home season in the last 12 months but was often criticised for not having been at his best during India’s overseas tours prior to that(except probably in Australia). Questions were raised about his technique and his ability to play the swinging and seaming ball on the most challenging of surfaces.
His century on that venom-spitting Centurion track though silenced his critics all around the world, as he showed great character and technique in conditions that were not at all conducive for batting.
And then came the ODI’s, Kohli’s personal playground, and he made South Africa pay big time, chasing down 270 with ease(along with Rahane) registering his 33rd ODI ton in the process.
Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan coach(and former South Africa) player is mighty impressed with Kohli’s performance in South Africa and wants India and Kohli to tour Pakistan in the near future.
He feels that while Kohli is brilliant batsman, he would find it tough to score runs in Pakistan against this potent Pakistan bowling attack.
“Kohli is a fantastic player but our team will make it “hard” (for him) to score a century there(Pakistan). It has been a great pleasure to watch Kohli scoring against all teams and it is always enjoyable to watch his batting. However, our bowlers will not make it easy for him to score there”, Arthur said.
After that hundred in the first ODI, Virat Kohli has scored a century in all countries(cricket playing countries, of course), except Pakistan, where he hasn’t played until now.
India haven’t toured Pakistan since that 2005/06 tour where India lost the Test series 1-0, but comprehensively won the ODI series 4-1.
The terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009 and the searing tensions between India and Pakistan in the last few years have led to India not touring Pakistan for some time now.
Arthur hopes that India can tour Pakistan in the years to come, so that cricket lovers all over the world get to see the heroes of the present generation from both countries lock horns against each other.
“Hopefully, India will come to play in Pakistan”, he concluded.
