He has got his hunger back – Brad Hogg on Virat Kohli

In the last Asia Cup, India powered to a victorious start as they grounded Pakistan emphatically in the tournament opener, thanks to Virat Kohli’s effusive knock in the middle while Hardik Pandya anchored the innings at the other end.

Talking about India vs Pakistan, one of the most obvious discussions that come to the fore is Virat Kohli vs Shaheen Afridi. From all their meetings, Virat has reigned supreme with Afridi still to savour success against the Indian run machine.

Due to the clashes coming in the shortest format of the game, the kind of confrontation that usually sets up the tone of a prolonged skirmish between two greats hasn't exactly taken shape. At the moment, Virat’s stats against Afridi read that of 34 runs from two innings where the former has clobbered four fours and a gigantic maximum.

As the heat around one of the talked-about rivalries go through the roof, former Australian chinaman Brad Hogg opened up on the mini-clash between Afridi and the other Indian batters while also shedding light on the remarkable fixture between India and Pakistan at the 2022 T20 World Cup that featured Kohli going ballistic to help India clinch a remarkable win.

Hogg said, “I definitely will be watching it. It is one of the biggest contests that we can have. India has a more dominant batting. Pakistan with their pace attack has a slight advantage, especially with left arm Shaheen Afridi. He is a quality bowler. When you have a left-arm fast bowler who swings the ball with pace and gets them to come in for the right-handers it does make it difficult."

He further added, “I was looking at Virat Kohli's stats the other day. Tendulkar got a slightly better conversion rate of 100s. Kohli has got a better record. I just think he has got his hunger back and a little bit of pressure taken off him. I think he's got unfinished business and that’s probably the big danger for opposition teams. That innings against Pakistan here at the MCG, hitting Haris Rauf back over his head of good length. That was the best shot that I have ever seen in cricket. It was brilliant.”