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Karachi: Indian captain Virat Kohli has recalled his career-best ODI innings of 183 in 2012 Asia Cup at Dhaka against Pakistan and termed that knock as a ‘game-changer’ for him.
While talking to Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in an Instagram live session. The 31-year-old also labeled the innings ‘special’, as it turned out to be the last ODI of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
“Their bowling attack was quite potent. At the time they were a really challenging bowling attack because of the variations. There was (Shahid) Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema and there was Hafeez as well,” Kohli said.
“For the first 20-25 overs the conditions were clearly in their favor but I remember I was just happy batting next to Tendulkar. It turned out to be his last ODI innings and he scored a 50 and we got a 100-run partnership so that was a memorable anecdote for me,” he added.
Kohli also said it was one of the innings he played that made him believe in doing well against any bowling attack in the world.
“It naturally happened because I was constantly boosting myself up to want those situations to happen. I think that turned out to be a game-changer for me. It was a Sunday I remember, India-Pakistan match so the whole country is watching and everyone takes notice,” he added.
He said that he had made up his mind to play Saeed Ajmal, who was at the peak at that time in world cricket. “I constantly remember that game and you spoke about Ajmal who was at his peak. I clearly remember we played a T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. In a warm-up game, I started telling myself that I am going to start playing him like a leg-spinner,” he maintained.
“His doosra was quite difficult to face but his off-spinner was not that lethal so I said I am going to hit him over covers consistently and it just paid off I scored most of my runs against him through the offside. My only aim was to make him fear bowling the doosra against me,” he concluded.