"I Said, Virat You'll Not Be Spared..." - Junaid Khan Reveals Interesting Battle With Virat Kohli

Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan opened up on his battle with Virat Kohli during the series against India in 2012-13. Junaid recalled how he gave a warning to the batter and told him at the breakfast table that he would not be spared.

There would hardly be any cricket lover who doesn’t remember the battle between Junaid Khan and Virat Kohli during Pakistan’s tour to India in 2012-13. The Pakistan pacer was all over the Indian batter throughout the series and made him look clueless.

Junaid Khan started the series by removing Virat Kohli for a duck in Chennai and then sent him packing for 6 runs in the second game in Kolkata. However, if it was not enough, the pacer removed him in the third game as well and he was back in the hut for 7 runs that too at his home ground in Delhi.

In a recent interaction on Nadir Shah’s Podcast, Junaid Khan opened up about his battle with Virat Kohli. He recalled that after he removed the Indian batter in the first game he told him that this wouldn’t happen again.

Junaid Khan further narrated that after he sent Virat Kohli packing in the second ODI, he went to him ahead of the third game and told him that he would not spare him. He elaborated:

“I have taken wickets of so many batsmen but people always remember Virat Kohli’s wicket. We have played in the U-19 World Cup, we knew each other. It was my comeback series and I was playing against India for the first time. I got Kohli in the first match and he told me it would not happen again.

“I got him again in the second and third match. Before the third ODI at the breakfast table, I told him, ‘Virat you will not be spared today.’’ Younis Khan was also there. He said get him out again today. Younis bhai took Virat’s catch.”

Virat Kohli is still among the top five batsmen in the World – Junaid Khan

Junaid Khan further went on to rate Virat Kohli as one of the top five batters in world cricket. While hailing him as a world-class batter, Junaid praised him for breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record. He elaborated:

“Virat Kohli is still among the top five batsmen in the World. Especially in the white ball the way he has made records and has recently broken Sachin Tendulkar’s century record. He is a world-class batsman.”

Virat Kohli was recently seen in action during the ICC World Cup 2023. He had a staggering tournament as he slammed 765 runs and ended as the leading run-getter.