BIRMINGHAM: India captain Virat Kohli heads into a Champions Trophy final against arch-rivals Pakistan back on top of the one-day international batting rankings.
But the star batsman insists it is the form of the title-holders’ opening duo that is giving him confidence in the lead up to tomorrow’s clash between the sub-continent cricket giants at the Oval.
The 28-year-old Kohli is also top of the tournament batting averages with a scarcely credible mark of 253 - a figure that owes much to the fact that three of his four innings so far have been not outs.
Kohli was undefeated again as India crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets in a commanding semi-final victory at Edgbaston - the venue where they won the 2013 Champions Trophy title - on Wednesday.
His 96 not out saw Kohli end the match with nearly 10 overs to spare by hitting a four off Sabbir Rahman.
But Rohit Sharma was 123 not out at the other end, having shared an unbroken stand of 178 with his skipper.
By the time Kohli came in, however, India were well on their way to chasing down a modest victory target of 265 thanks to a brisk opening partnership of 87 between Sharma and left-hander Shikhar Dhawan, who made 46.
“I’m really enjoying the way I’m batting,” Kohli told reporters.
“For me the number of runs do not matter at this stage. I’m really enjoying the process.
“The way Rohit and Shikhar batted, it just gave me so much confidence heading out of the changing room. Those two guys really dent the opposition mentally,” he explained.
That India had a below par total to chase owed much to Kohli’s decision to bring on unheralded spinner Kedar Jadhav.
He only had six ODI wickets prior to this match yet dismissed both Bangladesh top-scorers Tamim Iqbal (70) and Mushfiqur Rahim (61) on his way to figures of two for 22 in six overs.