Shadab Khan, the all-rounder from Pakistan, has hailed Virat Kohli for his batting masterclass against the Men in Green at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, helping India achieve a win from the unlikeliest of situations. While speaking to Star Sports on the sidelines of the Asia Cup 2023, he stated that Virat Kohli is a world-class player, against whom you have to plan a lot.
During the group stage match of the T20 World Cup against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last year, India needed 28 off eight balls with the former Indian captain was on strike against Haris Rauf. He managed to smash two epic sixes against the Pakistan fast bowler to keep Team India in the match, before staying in the middle to see his country through to a famous win.
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“He is a world-class player, definitely. You have to plan a lot to face him,” Shadab Khan said about Virat Kohli to Star Sports, as per the report from the Indian Express. The 24-year-old also recalled the batting masterclass from his Indian counterpart, mentioning that no other batsman in the world could have managed to defeat Pakistan in the situation.
“The kind of batsman that Virat Kohli is, the way he has performed against us, even in the last match at the (2022 T20) World Cup, I don’t think that if any other batsman in the world was in that situation, could have done that to our bowling line-up. And, the beauty of it is that he can do t h is at any stage and at any time,” remarked Shadab Khan.
Meanwhile, the former ICC Champions Trophy winner from 2017, had a brilliant start to his Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Nepal in Multan, picking up four wickets to secure a big win for Pakistan. In their next group match of the tournament, the Men in Green will play against Team India in Kandy on September 2.