Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed may have failed to take the wicket of Virat Kohli in the country’s opening match against arch rivals India in the Champions Trophy last month, but the 26-year-old bowled a major of his spell against Kohli in the match. While Ahmed picked up the wicket of Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill and received some flak for his celebrations, Kohli went on to hit a hundred in the match. Ahmed now has recalled his experience of bowling against Kohli and shared that Kohli told him ‘well bowled after the match.
“My childhood dream of bowling to Kohli has come true in Dubai. It was a great challenge and I took the liberty of teasing him, asking him to hit me a six but he never got angry. Kohli is a great batter, we all know that. But he is a great human being too. He said, ‘well bowled’ after the match, and that made my day,” Ahmed told Telecom Asia Sport.
The Pakistani spinner was playing in his tenth ODI and the group match against India was the first time that he was playing in a match against the arch rivals. The leg-spinner, who has 15 wickets in his ODI career so far, had bowled 30 balls during his ten overs in the match. Kohli, who played a knock of 100 runs off 111 balls to star in India’s win, managed to score 16 runs in those 30 balls. Ahmed showered praise on Kohli’s fitness. “I have grown up idolizing Kohli and used to tell Under-19 players that one day I will bowl to him. Kohli’s fitness is outstanding. The way he runs between the wicket is eye-catching and that’s what makes him a unique cricketer,” added Ahmed.
During India’s chase, Ahmed had gotten rid of Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill with a googly and gave the Indian vice-captain a send-off. India were placed 100 for 2 in 17.3 overs when Gill was dismissed. Ahmed downplayed the incident. “That’s my style and I see nothing wrong with it. No official told me that I did anything wrong but if it hurt anyone, I am sorry for that. It was not my intention to hurt anyone,” said Ahmed.
Earlier, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram had criticised Ahmed over his celebrations. “I was very impressed with the ball, I wasn’t impressed with the celebrations. Time aur jagah hoti hain na yaar (There is time and place for it, buddy). If you are winning, celebrate. When you know, the team is stuck, you get the wicket, be humble. Be Humble. But that’s not happening. There is no one to tell him that,” Akram had told The Pavillion on Ten Sports.