Ahead of the World Cup 2023, Pakistan leg-spinner and vice-captain Shadab Khan surprisingly snubbed Virat Kohli and instead picked Rohit Sharma as the “most difficult batsman to bowl”.
Shadab is on his first trip to India for the World Cup 2023, where Pakistan will be aiming for their second ODI WC trophy, and their first since Imran Khan led them to the 1992 WC trophy in Australia.
Once Rohit Sharma gets set he becomes very dangerous: Shadab Khan
When asked about the most challenging batsman to bowl at, Shadab picked the India captain Rohit Sharma, and not the other superstar Indian batsman, Virat Kohli. The Pakistani leg-spinner admitted that Sharma is the most dangerous batsman when he gets set – his three double centuries speak of that.
“I admire Rohit Sharma a lot and among the leading batsmen in the world he is the most difficult to bowl to. Once he gets set he becomes very dangerous,” Shadab told the news agency PTI.
Shadab had bowled to Rohit Sharmain their Asia Cup encounter in Colombo last month. Sharma smashed the PAK leggie for 28 runs in only 10 balls, walloping him for 3 sixes and 2 fours, before Shadab dismissed Rohit, caught at long-off when the India captain was looking for another six. In the same match, Kohli cracked a sizzling century.
Their battle will resume on October 14 when India and Pakistan meet for their World Cup encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
India won the Asia Cup 2023, defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Pakistan, on the other hand, failed to reach the final, and finished 4th in the Super 4 round, behind even Bangladesh. However, the Pakistan vice-captain is confident of his team learning from their mistakes in the Asia Cup and doing well in the World Cup.
“The Asia Cup didn’t go well but that’s the beauty of cricket you learn from your mistakes and there is always an opportunity to learn and play good cricket. After we lost the Asia Cup we got good rest and I believe it’s no more a skill game but a mental game and it’s the World Cup situation. You can take good decisions when you are relaxed mentally,” Shadab added.
