The Delivery To Dismiss Virat Kohli Was The Best Ball I've Bowled At International Level, Says Adil Rashid

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has opened up on his dream delivery that castled Virat Kohli in the third One-Day International.

It was a delivery that will remain with Rashid for the rest of his life. And why not after all it was reminiscent of the Ball of the Century Shane Warne bowled to Mike Gatting in 1993. By the time the ball had hit the stumps, the commentators and the fans were in awe. On the other hand, Kohli made a face that pretty much summed up how good the delivery was.

The India skipper was well set on 71 in the series-decider and was on his way of another ODI ton. However, Rashid delivered an absolute gem of a delivery to cut short the right-hander’s innings. The ball had pitched on leg stump, ragged back past the batsman’s outside-edge and uprooted the off-stump. A stunned Kohli stared at the crease to find the demon which had made the ball turn so much before heading towards the dressing room.

And Rashid has now called the delivery the ‘best ball’ he has bowled at international level.

“I wish the plan had been to bowl him off-stump. But that was never the case.  That was the best ball I’ve bowled at international level. It has to be to dismiss one of the best batsmen in the game,” he told Sky Sports.

Rashid further lavished praise on Kohli, arguably the best batsman in the world right now.

“It would certainly be nice to bowl to Virat Kohli again! I’ve got on with him well since we first played against each other at U19 level,” he said.

“Back then it was abundantly clear he had a huge future – and it was nice to hear him say in his post-match presser that he remembers I was spinning it big back then!

“Since then he’s grown and grown as a player and gained a wealth of experience – developing his game year-on-year and it’s no accident.

He’s got a very good head on him and thinks about the game and speaks well about it too; all his hard work is paying off,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rashid has said he would consider ending his Test exile if the selectors pick him for the upcoming series against India.  Earlier this year, he had accepted only white-ball cricket contract from Yorkshire and has done exceedingly well since then. With conditions in England set to assist spinners at this time of the year, England would be desperate to have Rashid in their ranks.