Sourav Ganguly: Very hopeful of Kohli hundred in Asia Cup
Virat Kohli’s form and the extended wait for a 71st international hundred has been a major subject of discussion among cricket experts and fans alike for quite some time now. The former India captain registered his last international hundred back in November 2019, in a day-night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
He wasn’t quite at his best during India’s tour of England earlier this season, registering scores of 11 and 20 in the lone Test, 1 and 11 in T20Is and 16 and 17 in ODIs, before opting out of the white-ball tour of the Caribbean.
Virat Kohli's improved intent in the last few T20Is he played has impressed Sanjay Manjrekar...🫡
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With him set to return in action at the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE, Sourav Ganguly hopes for the modern-day stalwart to end the century drought in the competition.
"Virat needs practice and has to play (more) matches. He is a great player. He is playing very well but not getting a century. Hope he will make a century in this Asia Cup. I am very hopeful," said Ganguly in an interview with Sports Tak.
With 3,308 runs at a stagggering 50.12, Kohli is only behind Martin Guptill and Rohit Sharma among leading run-scorers in T20Is. He has registered 30 fifties but is yet to register a triple-digit score in the format, with a highest of 94*. He has five T20 hundreds though - each of which came in the IPL - four in 2016 alone.
The Asia Cup 2022 will commence on August 27, and India will begin their campaign the following day against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium.
Meanwhile, Ganguly is set to return to the playing field and will lead India Maharajas at the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2022 in September-October. The Maharajas will play the Eoin Morgan led World Giants in an exhibition game in Kolkata on September 16.
"I am very excited to play at Eden Gardens again," Ganguly said. "Very excited. This is a charity game on 75 years of Indian Independence —Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav... It is going to be a special game. I don't know what will happen because I am not in practice anymore... I don't know what will happen. I wish I can play cover drive like before. I wish I could connect the bat and ball well. I will play just one game. Will enjoy the game. It's a game for a good occasion and I am happy to participate in it."