Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has claimed that if talismanic India batter Virat Kohli gets a fifty in the side’s match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup on August 28, then the mouths of critics will be quiet for the rest of the tournament.

If he features in India’s Asia Cup opener against Pakistan it will also mark Kohli’s 100th T20I appearance. Kohli returns to the Indian team for the Asia Cup, having last featured for the national team during the tour of England in July. He was rested for white-ball tour of West Indies and ODIs against Zimbabwe. Kohli has been in a prolonged lean patch, having not scored a century in international cricket since November 2019.