IND vs PAK: "Virat Kohli isn't the first.."- Rashid Latif's jaw-dropping revelation about Pakistan fans

Former wicket-keeper Rashid Latif has claimed that Virat Kohli is as popular as Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan over there in Pakistan.

Rashid Latif's comments have come just a day before Virat Kohli and the Indian team take on Pakistan in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The arch-rivals are all set to lock horns against each other at the Nassau County Stadium in New York which will mark the first time that the two nations play each other in the USA.

This will be India and Pakistan's 7th meeting at an ICC T20 World Cup with the 2007 champions having an upper hand over the 2009 T20 World Champions. In their previous match-up at the 2022 edition in Australia, it was Virat Kohli who stood in between the Pakistanis and the victory as the batting stalwart delivered one of the most memorable chases.

And when the two teams meet later tonight in NY, it will be nothing less than a carnival with all eyes on Virat Kohli and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.

What did Rashid Latif say about Virat Kohli?

While speaking in his latest YouTube video, Rashid Latif had high praise for the former India captain Virat Kohli. Latif mainly shed light on Kohli's popularity in Pakistan, claiming that the batter has a massive fan base in the country. Though Kohli is not the first one to have such a fan following he is certainly among other popular personalities from India.

Rashid Latif narrated that during his playing days, the Hindi Film industry's Superstars like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan also had an equal amount of followers. Latif also stated that young and upcoming batters in Pakistan during the 80s and 90's, used to copy the technique of 1983 World Cup winner Sunil Gavaskar.

This speaks volumes about how much of an influence personalities from India have in Pakistan and Virat Kohli is among those legendary names.

"It's not like that Virat is the first one with such a big fan base in Pakistan. If you go back, Dilip Kumar had a massive fan following in Pakistan. Sunil Gavaskar became a cult in Pakistan. Young batsmen were told to copy Gavaskar Sahab's technique. Then Amitabh Bachchan's 'angry young man' movies used to get sold out." - Rashid Latif said via his latest YT video.

Latif says people in Pakistan love Kohli as much as Indians loved Akram and Akhtar

Rashid Latif then gave another simple example as to how popular Virat Kohli is in Pakistan. Just like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, who were household names in India, Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dhoni, and Kohli are also familiar names across the border.

Latif also admitted that Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag - two of India's most flamboyant batters ever, are also popular in Pakistan. However, the former cricketer believes that the craze about Virat Kohli is on a different level.

"Like in India, you guys loved our bowlers – Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar became household names. Here in Pakistan, we adored Gavaskar Sahab, Tendulkar, then Dhoni, and now Kohli – they are all icons. Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag too have a good fan following in Pakistan. But all said and done, the mad craze over Virat is another level." - Latif concluded.