New Delhi, Jul 31: Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has named India’s Virat Kohli as the toughest batter he has faced, placing him ahead of former Australian stars Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson.
Speaking about the most challenging opponents of his career, Amir praised Kohli’s consistency, ability to control an innings and reputation for delivering in high-pressure situations.“For this generation, I have said many times that Virat Kohli is the toughest batter I have bowled to,” Amir said in an interview with Wisden.
He said Kohli’s consistency and ability to finish matches set him apart from other modern-day batters.Amir acknowledged that Ponting and Watson were among the most difficult players he bowled to during the earlier phase of his career. However, he maintained that Kohli stood above other players of the current generation.The Kohli-Amir contest was one of the most closely watched individual battles in India-Pakistan cricket, particularly in major international tournaments.
Kohli has enjoyed considerable success against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, scoring 308 runs in five matches. His scores include unbeaten knocks of 78, 36, 55 and 82, along with a 57-run innings.Several of those performances came in high-pressure matches and played an important role in India’s victories over Pakistan.
Amir, however, has also enjoyed notable success against Kohli. The left-arm pacer dismissed the Indian batter during a decisive opening spell in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, which Pakistan won to secure its most recent major ICC title.He also claimed Kohli’s wicket during the 2019 ODI World Cup, although the Indian batter had scored 77 runs before being dismissed.
In T20 Internationals, Amir bowled to Kohli in two matches in 2016, conceding 16 runs from 19 deliveries. However, he did not dismiss the former India captain in the format.Amir’s remarks underline the respect shared between leading players from India and Pakistan, whose on-field contests have often attracted significant attention from cricket fans worldwide.
