Indian skipper Virat Kohli is known for his batting across the world. He is considered as the best batsman of this generation. He can also roll his arm occasionally when the team is in need of a part time pacer.
However, Virat Kohli has revealed that his bowling is not at all taken seriously by his teammates. The Indian skipper told about an incident during 2017. When he was thinking to bowl, Jasprit Bumrah gave Virat Kohli a cold shoulder.
“It was the during the ODI series in Sri Lanka (in 2017) where we had almost won everything, I asked MS (Dhoni) if I could bowl. Just when I was getting ready to roll my arm over, Bumrah (Jasprit) shouted from the boundary and said ‘no joking around, it is an international game’.
“No one in the team believes in my bowling but I do. After that I had back issues and then never bowled (in the middle),” said the Indian skipper in an interview.
Virat Kohli has four wickets to his name in both ODIs and T20Is. However, despite not bowling in international cricket, he still tries his bowling in nets during practice sessions.
Virat Kohli Followed James Anderson’s Bowling Action
The Indian skipper once had a rivalry with English pacer James Anderson. The duo were at cross roads when India toured England during 2014. James Anderson got the better of Virat Kohli then, but in 2018 Kohli paid back all English bowlers well.
Interestingly, Kohli revealed that he used to follow James Anderson’s action during his academy days in Delhi. He also said that both of them chuckled when he told Anderson about it.
“I used to follow James Anderson’s action when I was at the academy (in Delhi). Later, when I got to play alongside him, I told him about that story. We both had a good laugh over it,” Virat Kohli revealed.
Virat will be one of the most watched players by opposition bowlers in World Cup. Even though, he had a mixed IPL, Virat Kohli set a new benchmark in ODI cricket. He will be leading India and will be keen to bring World Cup back home.
Although, he won the trophy in 2011, he feels that he should win World Cup as a captain. India are considered one of the favorites to win it this summer. But a large responsibility lies on Virat Kohli’s shoulders.
On Saturday, there were reports about Virat Kohli injuring his thumb. The Indian captain was also seen leaving the ground keeping his thumb in ice water. However, he is expected to play against South Africa on Wednesday.
The team management are confident that he will be fit despite the minor injury scare. India will look to start on a positive note with a win. But a loss means, South Africa’s campaign will be wrapped already.