Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan recalled his rivalry with team India star batter Virat Kohli. Khan had a decent run against Virat Kohli as he dismissed him thrice in the international arena. Junaid Khan has bowled just 24 deliveries to Kohli in his career and gave away just three runs in the process.
During the IND vs PAK ODI series back in 2012/13, Junaid had scalped Kohli for a duck. In the second ODI, the right-handed batter was caught behind on Khan’s bowling. Before the final ODI in Delhi, Junaid recalled an incident, where he provided a warning to Kohli just before getting his wicket.
“Dande toh bahut saare ke udaye hai magar log jo yaad karte hai wo Virat Kohli ke hai (I have taken wickets of so many batsmen but people always remember Virat Kohli’s wicket,” Junaid said on Nadir Shah’s podcast.
Both Kohli and Khan have been playing against each other since the U-19 days. Meanwhile, Junaid Khan was playing for the first time against India at the highest level in the 2012/13 tour.
“We have played in the U-19 World Cup, we knew each other. It was my comeback series and I was playing against India for the first time. I got Kohli in the first match and he told me it will not happen again. I got him again in the second and third match. Before the third ODI at the breakfast table, I told him ‘Viru aaj aapki khair nahi hai (Virat you will not be spared today).’ Younis Khan was also there. He said get him out again today. Younis bhai took Virat’s catch,” said Junaid.
While Virat Kohli still remains to be a force in the international arena, Junaid Khan played his last match in 2019. The 33-year-old has represented Pakistan in 76 ODIs and scalped 110 wickets at an average of 29.24. In the Test format, Khan scalped 71 wickets in 22 games with 5 five-wicket hauls to his name. The left-arm pacer also played nine T20Is and scalped eight wickets.
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