Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has backed Virat Kohli to flourish in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Kohli has been going through a lean run in Test cricket, but Kaif feels the red-ball performances should not be a parameter to judge his match-winning abilities in white-ball cricket. Kaif highlighted Kohli's phenomenal record in the white-ball cricket and put his weight behind the veteran to make a strong comeback.

“Virat Kohli never accepts defeat and always makes a comeback. Don’t write him off in white ball cricket, the picture is far from over because he has 50 ODI tons to his name and nearly 13,000 runs in ODIs. So, forget what happened in Tests,” Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Kohli was at his best during the ODI World Cup 2023 where he ended has the leading run scorer of the tournament, amassing 765 runs at an average of 95.62. Kaif said Kohli is a different beast when it comes to white ball cricket. Kohli last played in Dubai during the Asia Cup 2022 and ended his draught for an international hundred with a brilliant century against Afghanistan. Kaif said Kohli has a great record in Dubai and backed him to do well in the showpiece event.

“He plays differently in white ball. The last time Virat Kohli played in Dubai, he scored an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls against Afghanistan and smashed six sixes in his innings. His form was excellent and he loves playing in Dubai so, I expect him to do well with the bat in the Champions Trophy,” Kaif added.

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