Mohammad Irfan Responds After Being Praised By Virat Kohli
There is absolutely no denying that that India-Pakistan fixture is one of the fiercest in the game. Given the history of the two nations, neither of the two teams want to end up on the losing side and as a result rarely do we see the players sharing a light moment on the field.
However, the past has witnessed several off the field incidents where the players had forgotten the rivalry and displayed exemplary respect and camaraderie . Recently, India skipper Virat Kohli and Mohammad Amir had hailed each other and now another such instance has been witnessed.
Kohli, in a recent chat show, had lavished praise on former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar and current pacer Mohammad Irfan, calling them lethal to face.
“I have never faced Shoaib Akhtar. But I have seen him in a game in Dambula against Pakistan. I got out. I couldn’t face him. He looked lethal. When I saw that, I realised what it would feel like after his ball hit the batsmen on the body,” Kohli had said on Breakfast with Champions.
He had gone on to say how tough it is to face Irfan for his height. Kohli had revealed that batting coach Sanjay Bangar had bowled from a chair to prepare the players before the clash against Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup.
Akhtar had later returned the favour by tweeting:
I was better off not bowling at all when #<!---->K<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i was batting.Jokes apart,he's a gr8 batsman & bowling agnst him wud have been a gr8 contest. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->H<!---->L<!---->3<!---->2<!---->U<!---->p<!---->X<!---->r<!---->U
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7
Well, Irfan has also returned the favour, calling Kohli a great player with a great heart. The Pakistan star took to Twitter to praise the India skipper.
“What a gentleman @imVkohli is! Great player with a great heart. Prayers for you my friend. Hope that we play more often in grounds. #Respect,” Irfan wrote.
What a gentleman @<!---->i<!---->m<!---->V<!---->k<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i is! Great player with a great heart. Prayers for you my friend. Hope that we play more often in grounds. #<!---->R<!---->e<!---->s<!---->p<!---->e<!---->c<!---->t h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->o<!---->v<!---->K<!---->W<!---->u<!---->E<!---->M<!---->4<!---->T<!---->L
— Mohammad Irfan (@M_IrfanOfficial) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7
Video of the day:
