ICC Champions trophy 2025: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma extensively prepare for Shaheen Afridi threat this way

India's star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have started preparing for their highly anticipated Champions Trophy match against Pakistan. Kohli and Rohit are aware of the threat of Pakistan's left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi, who has caused them trouble in the past.

As a result, both the senior batters decided to hire a local left-arm fast bowler to prepare for the threat of Shaheen Afridi. According to the reports, the Indian team management has hired the local fast bowler Awais Ahmed who plays domestic cricket for UAE.

Not only Shaheen, but the Indian batters also have Bangladesh's pace bowling attack in their mind. Bangladesh have the left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman in their bowling line-up and he has achieved some success over India in the past.

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Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma prepare for Shaheen Afridi threat

With the Champions Trophy 2025 looming around, India are looking to be ahead of their opponents due to which they hired UAE's domestic bowler Awais Ahmed in the nets to help Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma prepare for some left-arm pace.

Awais felt excited to bowl at two of the greatest batters of all time. While speaking to Sports Yaari, he revealed his background and spoke about his connection with Pakistan.

"My name is Awais Ahmad and I am a domestic UAE cricketer who bowls left-arm fast. I played for 7 Districts in the UAE. I have played for three seasons. I have a connection with Pakistan," Awais said.

"I belong from the same district at Naseem Shah – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Our coach received an SMS that they needed a left-arm fast bowler and he told me that I have to bowl to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. I am very excited about it," he added.

Awais also revealed that the Indian batters will be up against Shaheen Afridi on February 23 due to which he was hired by the team management. He spoke about his desire to dismiss both Rohit and Kohli in the nets.

"Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma only informed because they will be up against Shaheen Afridi on Sunday. I can bowl both – in swing and out swing – and hopefully I will be able to try and get them out. Either LBW or bowled. They are players who have achieved everything, they operate at a different level. We are nothing in front of them."

Rohit Sharma praises Awais Ahmed

Awais Ahmed bowled to Team India and also received praise from India's captain Rohit Sharma later. Rohit also joked with the bowler that he tried to break his leg. However, he hailed him for his efforts and thanked him for coming to the nets.

“Class bowler. Aap hamara joota… hamara pair todne ki koshish kar rahe the par...inswinging yorker maar ke (You were trying to break our legs). Badiya bhai badiya (very good). Aap log humko idhar aake help kar rahe ho, bada acha laga, thank you (You guys ur helping us by bowling to us here)," Rohit said.

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Shaheen Afridi's performance in the T20 World Cup 2021

India have already faced the wrath of left-arm fast bowling before. During the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shaheen Afridi dismantled India's batting line-up and dismissed the team's top batters Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli.

Afridi returned figures of 3-27 in four overs and became the Player of the Match. He helped Pakistan beat India for the first time in a World Cup match. The match proved to be the turning point as India were unable to qualify for the next stage.