IND vs PAK: Virat Kohli's Childhood Coach Reacts On Indian Star's Bowling, Says 'He Was Always Keen"

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma reacted after seeing his student bowl in the Asia Cup 2022 against Hong Kong. The former India skipper bowled just one over, conceding six runs and it was difficult for the batters to put him away easily.

It was for the first time in nearly six years that fans got to see Kohli bowl. The 33-year-old last bowled in 2020 in a Test match against New Zealand, and in March 2016 in a T20I match.

Why Kohli doesn’t bowl as often?

Interestingly Kohli used to be quite a regular part-time bowler for India and his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bangalore till 2012.

However, there are two popular instances when it comes to Kohli’s exploits with the ball. The first is a rather unhappy memory for him as he was smashed around the park by Albie Morkel in the 2012 edition of the Indian Premier League. The second is a much better account of the fighter he is. Kohli bowled in the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal and picked up a crucial wicket against the mighty West Indies.

His childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma said that Albie Morkel’s sensational assault while playing for Chennai Super Kings may have had an effect on him picking up the ball less regularly in latter years.

“Virat was always confident as a bowler. Morkel did dent his confidence a bit in the past (laughs) but he was always keen to take the ball and used to say – ‘give me the ball, I will pick wickets.’ So it is great to see him bowling again,” revealed Sharma on India News Sports.

Yuzvendra Chahal will be clinical against Pakistan

Rajkumar Sharma also opined that leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal could play a huge role in India’s clash against Pakistan on Sunday. The 32-year-old has gone wicketless in the two games so far but has provided economical spells with the ball.

Sharma feels the game against Pakistan will be a big one for Chahal as he can dictate terms in the middle overs if he gets into his groove.

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