Virat Kohli has managed to become a top player in all formats of the game and averages more than 50 in Tests, ODIs, and T20s. The fear of Kohli has been further highlighted by Pakistan great Saqlain Mushtaq. While advising England spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid before India’s visit, Saqlain asked them to treat skipper Virat Kohli like the entire Indian team, saying the prolific batsman alone is like a complete eleven.
Saqlain was associated with England as a spin consultant till World Cup last year. Under him both Moeen and Rashid have dismissed Virat Kohli six times each.
“Yeh ek nahin, yeh gyarah hai. I would just tell them Virat’s wicket is like bowling out the entire Indian team. He is like XI players in one, you have to see him like that,” the 43-year-old said in an Instagram Live with Nikhil Naz.
“As a bowler, you have to be clear in your mind. Yes, you have a world-class player who is at the top of his game and does not face any issue against any type of spinner, be it left-arm, offie, or a leggie.”
”But I would tell them the pressure is more on him not you, as the whole world is watching him. You have to be clear in your mind.”One of the best dismissals of Kohli has been the one affected by leg-spinner Rashid who cleaned up the Indian captain with a delivery that pitched around the leg, turned sharply, and clipped the off-stump during the Headingley ODI in 2018.
Saqlain had named it as “Virat-wala delivery” and would encourage Rashid to consistently practice that during the nets.
“It was a wide ball and had a lot of drift and clipped the bail. I would tell him to bowl Virat-wala delivery so that he keeps producing that at the nets. It’s about putting your soul into the ball. Yes, he’s the No 1 player in the world. But if you put your plan, imagination, feeling, and passion into the ball, you are no less. As the No 1 batsman, he will have an ego. If you bowl a dot ball to him his ego will get hurt. And if you trap him and get him out, he will be really sad. It’s a mind game, you have to keep your standard high.”
