Asia Cup 2022: 'Kohli's stats don't matter', Rahul Dravid on Ind vs Pak, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant

On the eve of India and Pakistan’s Super 4 game, Indian head coach Rahul Dravid heaped praise on Virat Kohli who has struggled to put together a ton for almost 3 years now.

Dravid while addressing the press conference ahead of the megahit clash between the arch-rivals, said, ‘With Virat Kohli, people are obsessed with Statistics, for us, his stats are not important, but his contribution is.’He further gave information about Avesh Khan who he said was ‘under the weather’.

Also Read Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka win close encounter against Afghanistan in Super Four

The pacer is currently unwell and might sit out for the 2nd round of Ind-Pak game in the ongoing Asia Cup. Dravid also shed light on Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant's saga during the Asia Cup opener. While the team went ahead with Karthik’s experience, Pant was left out in India’s first game vs Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022. ‘There is no such thing as the first choice XI, against Pakistan in Dubai we thought Dinesh Karthik was a better option and went ahead with him’, Dravid said.

Speaking about the blockbuster India-Pakistan game, the India coach said, ‘Although it is a high pressure game, the focus for us will be our game only’

He further provided update about Ravindra Jadeja’s knee injury and said, 'the ace all-rounder has been ruled out of the Asia Cup of course, but I do not want to rule him out of T20 World Cup. However, a lot will depend on the severity of his injury’

India will first face Pakistan on September 4th before they lock horns with Sri Lanka & Afghanistan next week in the Super 4.