It has been a very healthy rivalry between India’s captain and premier batsman Virat Kohli and Pakistan speedster Mohammad Amir. It was Amir’s sensational opening spell in the final of the Champions Trophy in June which helped Pakistan clinch their first ever Champions Trophy title. In the fiery spell, Amir bagged wickets of Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan as India was reduced to 33/3, chasing a monstrous target of 339 to win.
A few days earlier Kohli has called Mohammad Amir the best bowler he has faced in his relatively short career so far. The niceties between the two continued when Amir replied back by calling Kohli his favourite batsman in world cricket. The Champions Trophy final was the first time Amir bagged the prized wicket of Kohli. While there are many other modern greats at the moment but with an average of 50 across all three formats of the game, Amir rated him higher than the rest.
“No doubt, there is only plan A to get him out as soon as possible,” Amir was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “His ratio of success in chases is very good. He has always performed well in the pressure games, so if you get him out early then you have won half the match. From my point of view, Kohli is a very good cricketer. I wish he creates more records for his country and for his fans,” Amir said.
The pleasantries between the two have been going on for quite some time now. Earlier in the month, it was Kohli who rated Amir as the best bowler he has faced in the recent times. Despite a five year suspension due to involvement in spot-fixing, Amir has prized out 200 international wickets.
“In the recent times, Mohammad Amir of Pakistan (is the hardest to face),” Kohli said on an Indian chat show.
He is in the top two or three bowlers in the world and one of the toughest bowlers I have played in my career. You have to be on your ‘A’ game when you’re facing him, or he will strike. Outstanding, a very good bowler,” Kohli said. Amir replied by saying that it’s always nice to receive praise from a batsman of Kohli’s calibre.
“No doubt, Virat is a good batsman and praise from him gives you confidence and you start believing you can perform much better,” he said.
“I have said many times that he is my favourite batsman in recent times. He is quite a tough batsman and you need to be tough when you are bowling at him. Our mutual understanding is really good. Whenever we meet, we greet each other.
“He gifted me a bat during the Champions Trophy and before that he gifted me a bat during the World T20. I really like his bats so I always ask for them. He gifts me his bats even if I don’t ask him. No doubt, if he requires something from me, I will definitely give it.”