T20 World Cup: Mohammad Amir Selects Virat Kohli Over Rohit Sharma As Key Batter For India

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir said that performing in big matches like India-Pakistan gives an individual lot of confidence.

India will lock horns with Pakistan after five years in T20 World Cup on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Amir had bowled his best spell against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where he rattled through the top-order in the big chase.

Amir got the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to bowl a marvellous spell of 3/16.

Amir said that he always enjoyed those moments, and performing well in such matches brings the ultimate high in one’s career.

“As a cricketer, I always believe it is not about India-Pakistan, it is about cricket. I have always enjoyed the tough moments of the game. I love rising to the ocassion and when you do well there, the moments stay with you in your career. Performing in big matches gives you the ultimate high,” Amir told news agency ANI.

Dubai tracks tend to be on the slower side: Mohammad Amir

As seen in IPL 2021, the pitches in UAE will be sluggish and tricky for the batters to play.

Amir said the bowler needs to read the pitch well and use their variations accordingly.

“Dubai tracks tend to be on the slower side and as a bowler, I don’t play with the batsman, I play with the wicket. If I see the wicket and feel the slower ball will hold the key, why should I bowl at 140kph? Maybe bowl at 120kph and pick wickets. As a bowler, you need to see what the wicket demands. Once you learn that, you can suceed in any format,” Amir said.

“I always believe in checking the wicket after reaching the ground. As a bowler, you get an idea after the first two balls whether it will swing or not. If you need more time than that to understand what the wicket is doing, you don’t deserve to be at the stage. When I feel the wicket is assisting the swing, I bowl full. My success ratio is because I have bowled according to the demand of the wicket. I don’t see if it is Kohli, Rohit or Smith batting, I see what the wicket, demands and bowl accordingly,” he added.

I will always go with Virat Kohli because just like me: Mohammad Amir

Amir had great battles with Rohit and Kohli, where he has got the better of the two batters on a few occasions.

When the left-arm speedster was asked to select one of the batters who will be key for India, the Rawalpindi bowler named the Indian skipper as his choice.

“I will always go with Virat because just like me, he also likes pressure like situations. I have always done well in pressure conditions thanks to God and if you take out Virat’s stats, you will see he always performs well in pressure situations. I love this about him because he performs when under pressure,” Amir said. 

Pakistan has never won against India in T20 World Cups, having lost five times against them in the past.

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