Yuvi’s innings against Pak was game-changing: Kohli

TIL Desk Sports/ Heaping praises on Yuvraj Singh for his quick fire 53, skipper Virat Kohli has described the Indian middle-order batsman’s innings as “game changing”, adding that the performance helped to “deflate” arch-rival Pakistan in India’s opening Champions Trophy clash at Edgbaston.

“The way Yuvi batted, it was a game-changing innings and that gave all of us the confidence to start striking the ball well. Initially, the openers gave us a good start. It was a clinical performance from us and from the team’s point of view, it is indeed a very big win,” Kohli said.

After Rohit Sharma departed at 93, India was 194/2 at the end of 36 overs. Despite notching up a 50, Kohli was finding it difficult to time the ball well. He admitted that Yuvraj helped him to take the pressure off him.

“Later when I got to 50, I wasn’t able to play freely and Yuvi came in and just took all the pressure off me. And the way he batted was the way only he can strike the ball – hitting low full tosses for fours and sixes, and even digging out yorkers for fours was outstanding. I think it really deflated the opposition and that gave me the time to settle in. I think his innings was the difference in the game,” the Skipper said.