The 2022 T20 WC clash between India & Pakistan was a memorable one for the cricket fraternity. We witnessed how Virat Kohli played a staggering knock against Pakistan and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The battle between Virat Kohli & Haris Rauf was quite fascinating and Virat had the last laugh.
Virat Kohli took the team out of the muddle and once again there would be huge expectations from the batter in the upcoming ODI WC 2023. Virat once again will have to do the bulk of scoring as the middle order looks a bit fragile & inexperienced.
Virat Kohli was very focused and that showed how sharp his concentration was- Haris Rauf
Haris Rauf was having an interaction with ESPNcricinfo. Haris Rauf recalled the incident when he was a net bowler for the Indian cricket team and said that the batter Virat Kohli was so focused in his concentration and pointed out that Virat Kohli had remarkable control even in a practice session.
“When I was a net bowler for the Indian team and was bowling to Virat Kohli, I felt like he knew exactly where the ball was going to hit his bat. He was very focused and that showed how sharp his concentration was,” said Haris Rauf.
“Even during practice sessions in the nets, it felt like I was playing a match against him, despite being a net bowler. His remarkable control and intensity made me realize why he has such a reputation in the game,” he added.
My plan and execution was fine but that shot from Virat Kohli was all class- Haris Rauf
Haris Rauf then recalled the T20 WC 2022 incident when Virat Kohli smashed him for 2 sixes on the last two deliveries of the 19th over. Haris Rauf was astounded after he got hit by Virat and said that such sort of shot at long on can be hit by Virat Kohli only and termed that shot as absolute class.
“The way he [Kohli] played in the World Cup, that is his class, we all know the types of shots he plays. And the way he hit those sixes, I don’t think any other player can hit a shot like that off my bowling. If Dinesh Karthik or Hardik Pandya would’ve hit those sixes, I would’ve been hurting but those came off Kohli’s bat and he is a different class altogether,” said Haris Rauf.
“Since 28 were required off eight balls, I had bowled three slower balls and he was deceived. I had only bowled one quick ball out of four. So the idea was to bowl a slower one on that back-of-a-length zone since the boundary was larger on the square side. I had no idea that he can hit me down the ground off that length. So when he hit that shot off me, that’s his class. My plan and execution was fine but that shot was all class,” he added.