With a half-century during the Super Four phase of the Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Stadium, star Indian batsman Virat Kohli on Sunday tied the record for the most T20I fifties versus Pakistan.
From No. 3, Kohli took command for India, scoring his 32nd T20I fifty (60 off 44) and guiding them to 181/7 in 20 overs.
In spite of India losing Rahul soon after Rohit's wicket, Kohli came in and got off to a strong start, getting to 15 off 10 balls after Rohit and K.L. Rahul put on a brilliant fifty-run first wicket stand.
After Suryakumar Yadav and other easy wickets, Kohli adopted a more cautious strategy, making quick runs between the wickets to maintain the total. He was run out by an Asif Ali direct hit in the last over, finishing on 60 after reaching his half-century with a six against Mohammad Hasnain.
The fifty was Kohli's fourth in T20Is with Pakistan. At the same location and during the same ICC Men's T20 World Cup game last year, he also scored a half-century against Pakistan.
The 33-year-old Kohli shares the record for the most fifty-plus scores versus Pakistan in men's T20 Internationals. The other players with as many fifty-plus scores against Pakistan in T20 Internationals are Aaron Finch, Kane Williamson, Kevin Pietersen, and Martin Guptill.
Kohli's impressive run against Pakistan is reflected in his numbers: a total of 406 runs against them, the most by an Indian against Pakistan in T20Is, at an average of 67.66 and a strike rate of 119.06.