Virat Kohli is conscious of the challenge he’ll face when he plays against Bangladesh’s captain and left-arm spinner, Shakib Al Hasan, in the 2023 World Cup on Thursday, 19 October. Over the years, these two players have had numerous encounters, particularly in ODI cricket. Kohli has scored 140 runs off 148 balls delivered by Shakib, but Shakib has also managed to get Kohli out five times.
India maintains their unbeaten record in the 2023 tournament, having delivered impressive performances in their initial three matches against Australia, Afghanistan, and arch-rivals Pakistan. On the other hand, Bangladesh, despite a strong start against Afghanistan, has faced substantial defeats against England and New Zealand. In an interview with Star Sports, Virat Kohli shared his thoughts about Shakib Al Hasan before the match.
“Over the years, I’ve played a lot against him. He’s got amazing control. He’s a very experienced bowler. He bowls very well with the new ball, knows how to deceive the batsman, and is also very economical. You have to play your best against all these bowlers, and if you aren’t able to, these bowlers are able to create pressure and increase the chances of getting you out.”
He further added: “There are no big teams in the World Cup. Whenever you start focusing only on bigger teams, an upset happens.”
“He’s a special batsman” – Shakib Al Hasan on Virat Kohli
Shakib Al Hasan knows he has taken Virat Kohli’s wicket five times in ODIs and aims to continue this trend when they play against each other on Thursday. When discussing the importance of dismissing Kohli, he mentioned in the same media interview:
“He’s a special batsman, probably the best batsman in the modern era. I think I’m lucky to get him out 5 times. Of course, it will give me great pleasure, taking his wicket.”
Kohli’s recent struggles against left-arm spin have been widely discussed, making his battle against Shakib an interesting aspect to watch in the upcoming match.
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