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Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan gave a blunt reply on his T20I average comparison with Indian star Virat Kohli, stating that if a player is playing only for average, he is an average player. The following remarks came after Mohammad Rizwan helped Pakistan secure a sensational victory against Ireland in the second T20I match in Dublin.
The 31-year-old keeper batter, who steadied the visitor’s innings after successive wickets of Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, added 140 runs for the third wicket with stroke-maker Fakhar Zaman, making it the highest-ever partnership for the third wicket for Pakistan in T20I history. With unbeaten innings of 75, Rizwan took up his T20I average to 50.38, becoming the second-best after Virat Kohli among the batters scoring 3000+ runs.
Following the win, Rizwan was questioned on his average comparison with the Indian superstar, to which he replied, “If you look at the average, you are an average player. If you look at the conditions and what the game demands that will make you better. We have learned a lot of things from Virat Kohli, I respect him.” The player of the match also hailed his compatriot from the game, Fakhar Zaman.
WATCH: Rizwan opens up on his T20I average comparison with Kohli
Batting first, the home side Ireland posted a massive score of 193/7, thanks to the splendid efforts from Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, and death overs exploits by Josh Delany. For Pakistan, their ace left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi returned with the figures of (3/49) while Abbas Afridi scalped two wickets.
In return, Rizwan and Zaman ensured the series would go on for the decider as they made up the early hiccup in the chase. Rizwan struck with a strike rate of 163.4 while Zaman scored at 195. In the end, PSL’s sensation Azam Khan finished the game by smashing 30 runs in 10 balls.
