Not Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma!! Shaheen Afridi names the toughest batsman he faced

Shaheen Afridi is gearing up to lead Pakistan’s pace attack in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, but one battle fans will miss forever is his clash with the Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli. The battle between Shaheen Afridi and Virat Kohli has always been enthralling for the fans.

However, the former Indian captain retired from T20I cricket and Test cricket, and now he is only active in the ODI format. Kohli managed 88 runs against Afridi in six innings and fell to him twice. While their duels in T20Is are history, fans may still see the thrilling duel in the ODIs.

Shaheen Afridi names Hashim Amla as the toughest batter

But when Afridi was asked to name the toughest batter he has ever bowled to, the answer left many stunned. It wasn’t Kohli, nor anyone from Australia or England. The Pakistani pacer singled out South African legend Hashim Amla as the toughest batter who truly tested his skills.

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The left-arm pacer admitted that Hashim Amla’s technique and calmness made him the toughest batter than Virat Kohli. In their battles, Afridi never managed to dismiss Amla in Tests. However, Afridi found some success in ODIs, removing Amla twice while conceding just 40 runs.

Hashim Bhai is tougher than Virat Kohli: Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi said on the Bricks to Riches Asia podcast: “Hashim Amla. I've played Test matches and ODIs against him, and he's a tough competitor. I also played a match against him in the Vitality Blast—a Twenty20 cricket tournament in England.”

The pacer added, “I felt that he's a very good batsman, and he is excellent at what he does. Virat Kohli is a different player, but Hashim Bhai is tougher than him. Absolutely the toughest.”

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Notably, Amla retired as one of cricket’s modern greats, and he is the third-highest run-scorer for South Africa in international cricket. Amla played 124 tests, 181 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for South Africa, finishing with a staggering 18,672 international runs, including 55 centuries and 80 half-centuries to his name. He retired from international cricket in 2019.

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Shaheen Afridi set to lead Pakistan’s attack in Asia Cup 2025

Well, Shaheen Afridi’s ability to swing the ball and bowl at high speed makes him a key player for Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, starting on September 9 in the UAE. The first game will be played between Hong Kong and Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.

So far, Afridi has played 84 T20I matches and taken 107 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.80, which shows how effectively he controls runs while taking wickets. His skill and experience will be crucial for Pakistan as they aim to perform strongly in the tournament.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli is currently gearing up for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia next month. Kohli is likely to play unofficial ODI games against Australia A at home before leaving for the crucial ODI series against the senior side in October. He was last seen in action for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the UAE earlier this year.