“Pakistan bowlers will be pretty happy not to have to bowl to Virat Kohli” - Sunil Gavaskar ahead of Asia Cup clash

Former Indian captain and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has stated that the Pakistan bowlers would be pretty happy not to have to bowl to the talismanic Indian batter Virat Kohli in the much-awaited India vs Pakistan clash on Sunday, September 14, in Dubai.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, Gavaskar also felt that Pakistan bowlers would still remember the way Kohli batted in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, propelling the Indian team to an exceptional win.

"I'm sure they will be pretty happy not to have to bowl to him. Because we have seen some fabulous innings. What about that Melbourne innings, when the match looked lost as far as India was concerned? Then he hit those unbelievable two sixes off Haris Rauf to take India close to a win and then Ashwin finished it towards the end", Sunil Gavaskar told India Today.

"So yes, if I were a Pakistani, I would certainly be breathing a lot easier. That they are not playing against Kohli. Kohli, the cricketer, not just the batter," he added.

Furthermore, Gavaskar also opined on the boycott calls for the India vs Pakistan game, adding that the Indian team is following the government’s order to play the eight-team showpiece event in the United Arab Emirates.

"Well, at the end of the day, it's the government that makes the call. Whatever decision the government takes, the players and the BCCI have to follow, and that's exactly what has happened. It doesn't matter what we personally think; ultimately, it's the government's decision, and that's what is being implemented in this instance," he concluded.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.

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