Virat Kohli set to become first Indian player to play 100 matches in all formats tomorrow

Digital Desk: When India will take the field against archrivals Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday to kick off their Asia Cup 2022 campaign, star batter Virat Kohli will play his 100th T20I match, becoming the only player in history to play a hundred matches for India in all formats of the game.

Being able to represent the country in 100 matches across all formats demonstrates Virat's endurance in the game since his international debut in 2008, as well as his consistency and the unshakable faith his team has shown in him through many ups and downs throughout his decorated career.

Virat has played for Team India in 99 T20I matches so far, scoring 3,308 runs with an average of 50.12. He has 30 half-centuries in this format, and his best individual score for India in this format is 94.

Between 2017 and 2021, this outstanding batter captained his team in 50 games. He has won 30, lost 16, and tied four of these 50 games. Two games have finished in ties, while another two have ended in a draw. In this style, he had a commanding 64.58 win percentage while serving as captain.

When Kohli takes the field, he will be thinking about defeating Pakistan and playing a match-winning knock. India suffered a crushing 10-wicket loss the last time these two bitter rivals faced off in a T20I match. In that game, Kohli had struck 57 off 49 to get India to 151/7 in their 20 overs, but Pakistan's opening pair of Mohammed Rizwan (79*) and Babar Azam (68*) easily outclassed Kohli's team.

All eyes will be on this star batter to get back into form with a game-winning shot and possibly hit his eagerly awaited 71st century in international play. He has gone more than a thousand days without recording an international century.

Since his last international century in November 2019, Kohli has played a total of 27 T20Is, scoring 858 runs at an average of 42.90, for a total of 27 centuries. In this format, his highest mark is 94*. Since his last century in this style, he has hit eight half-centuries.

Since his previous international century, he has played in 68 international games across all forms and has amassed 2,554 runs in 82 innings at an average of 34.05. In all formats, he has hit 24 half-centuries.

Virat has had a particularly difficult time in 2022.

Virat has only played in four T20I matches for his team this year, during which he has scored 81 runs at a  subpar average of 20.25. His best score in the format this year is 52.

He has played for India in 16 matches across all forms this year, however, in 19 innings, he has only managed to score 476 runs at a poor average of 25.05. Only four half-centuries, with a top score of 79, have come off his bat.

All eyes will be glued to the TVs on Sunday, and fans are praying that Virat scores a major goal and that India takes revenge for their previous loss to Pakistan.

Asia Cup is being held in T20I format from August 27 to September 11.