Red-hot Babar Azam to struggling Virat Kohli: Five to watch at Asia Cup

25.08.2022 - 07:31 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Asia Cup begins on Saturday with top cricketers, including Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and India superstar Virat Kohli, in action in the United Arab Emirates.

Here are five players to watch in the six-nation tournament, which is an important warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.

BABAR AZAMPakistanWith key pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi out injured, Pakistan will depend heavily on Babar Azam's blazing batting.

The 27-year-old leads the T20 and one-day batting rankings and comes into the tournament on the back of two big half-centuries in Pakistan's 3-0 ODI sweep of the Netherlands.

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Virat Kohli has allayed many doubters with his terrific form in the recently-concluded Asia Cup. The former Indian cricket team captain hit a ton and two half-centuries to end the tournament on a great note. Though India could not qualify for the final, Kohli's form was definitely a positive for the team. It will also boost the side going into the T20 World Cup. Kohli will turn 34 in November, and several experts have talked about whether he should be giving up one of the formats in near future. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said that whenever Kohli decides to bid adieu to cricket, he should be at the top of his game.

Pakistan coach Saqlain Mushtaq backs Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan after Asia Cup loss

Asia Cup final in Dubai. Babar, currently the second ranked Twenty20 (T20) batsman in the world behind team mate Rizwan, managed only 68 runs in six innings and his form would be a concern ahead of the 20-overs World Cup in Australia beginning next month. "If someone looks at his batting, you'd just say he's unlucky, especially the way he's getting out," Saqlain said after their 23-run defeat by Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka surprise, Virat Kohli comeback: Five Asia Cup talking points

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs in Dubai on Sunday to clinch their sixth Asia Cup. AFP Sport looks at five things we learned from the six-nation tournament, which was a precursor for next month's T20 World Cup in Australia. Pundits gave Sri Lanka little chance of making the Super Four after an embarrassingly one-sided opening defeat against Afghanistan, but five successive wins took them to Asia Cup glory. Sri Lanka beat favourites India in the Super Four and then got past Pakistan twice to give the young team confidence going into the T20 World Cup in Australia, where they will have to progress through a qualifying round. But Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who hit an unbeaten 71 in the final, said he believed a rejuvenated Sri Lanka could ride the momentum of their Asia Cup triumph and go all the way in the T20 showpiece.

Watch: Babar Azam Tells Umpire "Kaptaan Mai Hu" Over DRS Confusion

The final Asia Cup Super 4 match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka may have been a dead rubber since both teams were already in the final, but that didn't mean there was no drama in the match. In what was a dress rehearsal for the summit clash, both teams fought hard and Sri Lanka eventually emerged winners in a low-scoring game. After bowling Pakistan out for 121, Sri Lanka were 103/4 after 15 overs. Then, there was a moment of confusion in the next over as Pakistan went up in appeal after Mohammad Rizwan thought Dasun Shanaka had nicked one behind to him.

Anushka Sharma "Iron Lady", Virat Kohli "Man Made Of Steel": Shoaib Akhtar On Power Couple

After smashing his 71st century in international cricket, Virat Kohli credited his wife Anushka Sharma for having his back, especially when nothing was going right for the star batter. Kohli, who had not scored a century in nearly three years, reached triple figures against Afghanistan in the ongoing Asia Cup. He slammed an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls, hitting 12 fours and six sixes. Sharing his views on Kohli's post-match quote on his wife Anushka, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar hailed the power couple.

"There Is Respect, He Is Always Keen To Learn": Virat Kohli On Babar Azam

Cricket fans got to witness another nail-biting encounter between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Super 4 match on Sunday. The match turned out to be a forgetful one for the Indian side, as they faced a five-wicket defeat against their arch-rivals. Despite the heated intensity of the game and so much hype, the players of both countries still carry out a friendly relationship between them, which always lifts up the spirit of the sport. On Sunday, India star batter Virat Kohli backed Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and called him a "talented player" who is always keen to learn.