'Only Virat Kohli Could've Done That To Our Bowling': Shadab Khan

image-lm033piqVirat Kohli's unbeaten 82 downed Pakistan at MCG [X.com]

Ahead of the much-hyped India-Pakistan encounter on Saturday in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, all-rounder Shadab Khan has praised former India captain Virat Kohli.

Shadab, who has been the most improved player for Pakistan in recent times, lauded Kohli for his monumental effort against the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 encounter at Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

Kohli scored an unbeaten 82 off 53, which included six fours and four sixes, helping India chase down 160 runs. The batting maestro's six off Rauf in the 19th over remains one of the most outrageous shots in cricket, which left audiences across the globe stunned. 

Speaking to Star Sports, Khan explained that only a batter of Kohli's calibre could charge against an in-form Pakistan bowling attack.


No other batter could have done that: Shadab

"The kind of batsman that Virat Kohli is, the way he has performed against us, even in the last match at the 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 this at any stage and at any time."

The 24-year-old further provided insight into how planning against someone like Kohli is carried out in international cricket.

"He is a world class player, definitely. You have to plan a lot to face him. Anyway, in international cricket, there are a lot of mind games, because you definitely have the skill to reach that level. But how you read each other’s minds, the bowler and the batsman, how they read each other’s minds and it also depends on what the situation is."

Kohli and Khan will be in action for India and Pakistan, respectively when both nations clash on September 2 at Pallekele.