Former Pakistan pacer Sohail Khan has revealed the details of his run-in with Virat Kohli during the 2015 World Cup. He also gave his view of Kohli’s famous six off Haris Rauf in the 2022 T20 World Cup last year, disputing its status as an exceptional shot.
The India-Pakistan clash at the Adelaide Oval in 2015 saw Kohli rise to the occasion, making 107 in 126 deliveries to help his side post 300-7 after they batted first. Sohail was the standout Pakistan bowler with 5-55 in his 10 overs, which included the big scalps of Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane and centurion Kohli.
38-year-old Sohail, who made his ODI debut in 2008, has revealed an incident from the game, saying that Kohli was unaware of who he was and of his international experience.
Speaking on The Nadir Ali Podcast, Sohail recounted how Kohli walked up to him when he walked out to bat at No.10 during the World Cup clash in 2015. According to Sohail, Kohli said, “It’s been eight days since you arrived in cricket and you already talk so much.”
“I played Tests during 2006 and 2007 before I was sidelined due to a knee issue,” Sohail explained on the podcast. “I told him, ‘Son when you were playing u19, your father was a Test player.’ I told him exactly in this manner.
“[Pakistan captain] Misbah-ul-Haq got angry at me and asked me to remain quiet. MS Dhoni, on the other hand, came to Kohli and told him ‘Kohli, be on the side. He is an old rice [seasoned player], you don’t know him.”
Sohail then states that Kohli walked away from the scene immediately after the intervention of the two skippers. “He walked away straight after and stood there.”
The Pakistan player, who last played international cricket in 2017, made his Test debut in February 2009, when Kohli had already played for the senior India team. The batter first played for the Men in Blue in August 2008 and has established himself as one of the greats of the game. Kohli’s last u19 appearance was in March 2008.
Sohail was also asked about Kohli’s stunning six off Rauf when India needed 28 off eight deliveries in the 2022 T20 World Cup last year. The shot, which left the world talking, was instantly hailed as one of the greatest played in the sport’s history, but Sohail was unimpressed.
“Didn’t he hit that [six] against Shaheen Afridi? I saw the six but sixes keep getting hit in cricket. It wasn’t an exceptional shot. He made room and hit it straight down the ground. It was nothing. The ball was on the hard length, the batter was quick and fit – he moved back, made room and hit a straight six.”
