Kohli is great batter, greater human being: Abrar

KARACHI:

Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed was stating the obvious when he reckoned that Virat Kohli is a great batter. But then he added, the Indian maestro is even a great human being making him an icon for generations.

The 26-year-old Abrar came face-to-face with Kohli in the high-voltage clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday and earned special praise from the master.

Abrar was not given a chance in the India vs Pakistan clash in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and also the Twenty20 World Cup clash in New York last year. Finally, his chance came in Dubai where Pakistan suffered a six-wicket defeat to India as they crashed out of the Champions Trophy.

Abrar took 1-28 in his ten calculated overs and kept Kohli under check with some tight bowling. Remembering that match, Abrar said it was his childhood dream to bowl to the Indian great.

“My childhood dream of bowling to Kohli has come true in Dubai,” Abrar told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).

“It was a great challenge and I took the liberty of teasing him, asking him to hit me a six but he never got angry. Kohli is a great batter, we all know that. But he is a great human being too.

“He said, ‘well bowled’ after the match, and that made my day,” said Abrar. “I have grown up idolizing Kohli and used to tell Under-19 players that one day I will bowl to him.”

Abrar said Kohli’s fitness is remarkable. “Kohli’s fitness is outstanding. The way he runs between the wicket is eye-catching and that’s what makes him a unique cricketer.”

Abrar bowled Shubman Gill with a peach of a delivery that turned and hit the stumps. His sending off by flicking his eyes to signal Gill to go back went viral on social media, but Abrar played down the incident.

“That’s my style and I see nothing wrong with it. No official told me that I did anything wrong but if it hurt anyone, I am sorry for that. It was not my intention to hurt anyone,” he added.