Virat Kohli is expected to play a pivotal role for India when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2022 opener on Sunday. The two sides will lock horns at the Dubai International Stadium, UAE. 

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Kohli, who has been struggling for runs for the last few months, last scored a century in 2019. The star batter missed India’s T20I series against the West Indies and the entire Zimbabwe tour. He will, however, be in focus throughout the Asia Cup. 

When Rohit Sharma and take to the field to play Pakistan, Kohli will wear his 100th T20I cap. The 33-year-old will become the first player to represent India in hundred matches in all formats. The former skipper has played 102 Tests and 262 ODIs. He made his international debut in 2008. 

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In T20Is, Kohli has scored 3,308 runs at an average of 50.12. His best individual score for India in this format is 94 and he has scored 30 half-centuries in this format. He led India between 2017 and 2021. In 50 T20Is as captain, he won 30 and lost 16. Two matches ended in a tie while two failed to produce a result.

The last time India locked horns with Pakistan was during the T20 World Cup last year. The Men in Blue suffered a humiliating 10-wicket loss. Kohli had top-scored for the team with a 49-ball 57. 

Since his last ton, Kohli has played 68 games across formats. He has scored 2,554 runsin 82 innings at an average of 34.05. The star batter has managed to score 24 half-centuries in the period. 

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“I know where my game stands and you cannot run this far in your international career without having the ability to counter situations and counter conditions and counter different kinds of bowling. So, this for me, is an easier phase to process, but I don’t want to put this phase behind me,” Kohli said on Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’.

The Asia Cup begins on Saturday, with Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan.