Sports

Would have been worried to bowl to Kohli, says Wasim Akram

Pakistan veteran bowlers says Indian batting star's belief, technique make him special

Sports Desk May 27, 2016

PHOTO: REUTERS

Pakistan’s legendary fast-bowler Wasim Akram was a sight of terror for many batsmen in his era, however, the left-armer believes he would have been worried to bowl to Indian batting star Virat Kohli.

The 49-year-old was a force to be reckoned with during his heydays and bagged 916 wickets in both Tests and ODIs combined with his sheer pace and the ability to swing the ball both sides.

Kohli is world's best batsman: Wasim Akram

However, Wasim thinks Kohli’s self-belief and technique make him a difficult opponent to deal with.

When asked what makes Kohli so special, Wasim said: “[His] belief, his ability and on top of that his technique. We haven't seen him play the reverse shot or the lap shot, he always plays proper cricketing shots with the full face of the bat. That's why he has been very consistent and as a bowler if I had to bowl at him, I will be worried.

Wasim Akram toughest bowler I have faced, says Mohammad Azharuddin

Former Pakistan captain then went on to compare Kohli to Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar: “It is like in ODI cricket when Sachin Tendulkar opened the innings, it was very difficult to bowl at him because Sachin as a batsman and Kohli as a batsman will hardly give you a chance to get them out.”

Kohli, 27, is having the time of his life in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). As the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore he has scored 919 runs at a strike rate of over 151 and an average of 83.54 courtesy four well-constructed tons.

I would have feared Wasim Akram if I played against him: Virat Kohli

"Kohli has scored 36 sixes in this IPL ... they are a lot of sixes,” added Wasim. “In my cricketing career, I have 50 plus sixes and those days sixes were rare. So, you can imagine he is powerful, he is strong and he can hit the ball miles outside the stadium.”

Earlier, Kohli mentioned Wasim as the bowler he would have feared if he ever played against him.

“The bowler I most fear, or I would have feared if I had played [against him] would be Wasim Akram; fast and skillful,” Kohli answered a quick-fire question during an interview with CNN.

[poll id="1489"]

Watch two of world's greatest batsmen praise each other.

Wasim Akram was interviewed by India Today

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COMMENTS (18)

FAZ | 8 years ago | Reply @Samrat: Just google about opinions of various non Pakistani cricket experts and even Indians. Your asking for proof is like someone asking the United States for proofs of Iraqi WMD's that were never found!

FAZ | 8 years ago | Reply @Mega: Man you are megga obsessed with arrogance! So much so that you even don't read properly what is being said. Let me elaborate in simple words for you.. I said "most" of the good bowlers would face it difficult to bowl to "most" of the good batsmen of "this" era. Unless you are self loathing in assuming that all the good batsmen of this era are from India only, I think my point is very clear. Besides everypne knows that a dollor hungry guy like Akram is butter pasting you Indians here. Why do Pakistan have their cricket problems is not in question here or in the news article

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indian | 8 years ago | Reply @FAZ: Even in batsmen friendly conditions, current Pakistani batsmen failed in each and every games

Prada | 8 years ago | Reply I am happy that I will NEVER see Akram bowl to Kohli. It would make for very poor cricket. 1). Kohli fears facing Akram. 2). Akram fears bowling to Kohli. Akram will be bowling wides and Kohli will be swinging blindly. That will be terrible cricket for the spectators.

Titan | 8 years ago | Reply @Irfan_Sydney: At least Wasim is an invited guest in India. You on the other hand seem to be an uninvited guest in Sydney given the fact that the Aussies have put up ads in Pakistani newspapers saying "Don't come to Australia"

Nikhil | 8 years ago | Reply @Irfan_Sydney: lol praising Virat don't you IPl contract or coaching a team contract.. Virat doesn't "own" team like SRK to recruit him. Nor is Virat BCCI head. You give him too much credit. Worldover people praise Virat its because they see genuine talent and innings from him..they can see it in his statistics. He doesn't need fake praises. Stop being jealous for Wasim speaking his mind. He has also several times critiqued indian team too. That time he didn't wanted IPL and BCCI contract you mean? Stupid logic. He is is giving his honest opinion ..which you can't seem to digest due to Indo pak politics.

Revenge | 8 years ago | Reply @Irfan Sydney We already know what he is upto. Somehow I sense he is trying to be another Sami, not the bowler but the singer.

nkm | 8 years ago | Reply @Irfan_Sydney: maybe you must be a darbari for the Aussie , who so proudly states that is is from Sydney . how low confident can u get ?

Revenge | 8 years ago | Reply @BCCI The one accused of taking prohibited substance like Raza Hassan.

BCCI | 8 years ago | Reply @Irfan_Sydney: Who's Yasir Shah?

Irfan_Sydney | 8 years ago | Reply My only advice to Wasim Akram is to not to do too much of buttering because otherwise it would look too obvious what he is trying to achieve. Wasim is happy to teach swing bowling to anyone as long as the cricketer is in an Indian. Gavasker was the best batsman against fast bowling but have you ever seen Gavasker visiting Pakistan teaching Pakistani youth how to play swing bowling ? You would never hair Gavasker saying, "Oh No, Yasir Shah would have given me nightmares" I would tell Wasim Akram that you already have contract for commentary plus IPL coaching in India. So please don't act like a darbari of Mughal dynasty.

Vijesh | 8 years ago | Reply @سے Shaam (Hanafi) By that logic Wasim Akram should praise BCCI not Virat Kohli... Virat kolhi doesn't own BCCI nor does BCCI cares who says you say about indian players. But Wasim never praises BCCI yet always praises Virat..just like all other world cricketers do seeing him perform beautifully. Give where credit is due buddy. Wasim is speaking his mind, let him be.

Anuj | 8 years ago | Reply @Shaam (Hanafi) Its high time these conspiracy theories enthusiasts understand that IND alone brings 75% funds on the table atleast. If we want we can cripple ICC and form a new one. If people are so upset they can bring half the funds of what IND generates on the table and have their say as much as they like or just keep quiet. If we really controlled ICC, then there won't be any feud between ICC and BCCI over DRS. We have suffered a lot because of not accepting DRS as Dhoni has pointed out several times. A test match in SA, AUS , SL have cost us so much due to umpiring errors. If there were records of countries with most number of howlers against it, IND would definitely top. But let people cry as much as they want. At the end of the day, PCB need us and not vice versa.

سے Shaam (Hanafi) | 8 years ago | Reply Why is Akram sitting in India, if BCCI was so corrupt, the bottom line is BCCI provides Rozi-Roti to all cricketing boards including PCB. Had BCCI wanted PCB out, they would have taken them to cleaners long time ago. PCB feeds on BCCI crumps for survival and that is the naked truth.

Mega | 8 years ago | Reply @FAZ: Amazing to see hurt burn and jealousy reeking against a talented batsmen who has performed well world over be australia or other countries. If u don't have good batsman/bowler now.. accept that and improve..no need to lower someone else's achievement saying circket rules are not friendly, BCCI etc. Excuses are meant for loosers. If cricket is batting friendly why havnt your batsman performed same way then? Wasim is more knowledgeable than u.. Him speaking "facts" matters more...than a biased opinion that sees through green envious eyes.

Revenge | 8 years ago | Reply And still some people beg to BCCI to play the series and include PAK players in IPL despite knowing what a bully BCCI is, how much it controls ICC.

Samrat | 8 years ago | Reply @FAZ So it was BCCI who changed the rule of having 2 news balls from each end to finish reverse swing? Make spinners not to pause while bowling? Show the proof if you can. Do you ever get tired of conspiracy theories for once which other than PAK no one else believe in? And the irony is despite BCCI being such a villian, PCB still wants to play a series with India desperately and wants PAK players included in IPL despite having PSL. LOL! And I can say that this year 2016 won't end before PCB requesting BCCI atleast 10 times.

FAZ | 8 years ago | Reply With BCCI backed, batsmen friendly rules, everyone from Garner to Lilly would be afraid to bowl to most of the top batmen of this era

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