India lost the match against Pakistan in the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup 2022. The second outing between the two turned out to be a nail-biter yet again. However, it was the latter who came out on top as they sealed the win with five wickets to spare. Virat Kohli attended the post-match press conference and was happy to open up on a few things.
The Indian veteran did not shy away from heaping praising his Pakistani counterpart Babar Azam. The respect that the Indian legend had for him was clearly visible in all his replies. The Bangalore star said that he respects the Pakistani skipper and lauded Azam for his consistency. While the fans fight on social media to decide the best among the two, the duo have always been respectful towards each other.
The 33-year-old recalled how the skipper from Pakistan approached him after their clash in the 2019 World Cup. Kohli was delighted to admit that his rival was a keen learner and wished him well.
“Babar is a very kind guy. I have always had pleasant chats with him. I am not certain about connection, but there is always respect. He was always eager to learn new things. He approached me after our match in the 2019 World Cup. I have always maintained he is eager to learn, and it is no surprise that he is doing so in all formats of the game. He is a very talented player,” Kohli said in the post-match presser.
It is always a pleasure to see him: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli heaped praise on Babar Azam and said that he was delighted to meet him. The Indian batter played a decent knock against Pakistan and helped his team put a total of 181.
“It is always a pleasure to see him and the other guys (From Pakistan). They are all very friendly and get along well with everyone. Both teams have mutual regard for one another. That, I realized, was visible last year as well. On the field, we are fierce competitors but yet very courteous,” he concluded.
