'You have to plan a lot': Shadab pinpoints 'India's world-class player' as threat to PAK

Virat Kohli has a formidable record against every team on the international stage, but Pakistan seems to be his favourite victim. The batsman always produces his best against the arch-rivals and when it comes to scoring against them in the World Cups, then a classic knock becomes an inevitability. Among the many, one of the Virat Kohli innings that every Indian cricket fan takes pride in is his unbeaten 82 at MCG in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

3 things you need to know

• Virat Kohli scored a match-winning 82 not out against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022
• Kohli's career highest score of 183 in ODIs also came against Pakistan
• India will take on Pakistan on September 2, 2023, in Asia Cup 2023

Also Read | 'I can better my game': Virat Kohli reflects on India's Asia Cup 2023 clash vs Pakistan

Revisiting Virat Kohl blistering knock against Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup 2023

It was October 2022 and the much anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter had gripped the entire cricket world in its intrigue. Bowling first, India restricted Pak to the par score of 159 and were the favourites to chase down the score. However, following a horrendous start, India were in a spot of bother at 31/4. The chances of defeat were exceeding the winning probability but as the chips were down Virat Kohli emerged to the fore and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. After a slow start, Kohli acceralated rapidly and took India past the total of Pakistan. Kohli was adjudged the man of the match for his unbeaten 82, and was eventually lifted by captain Rohit Sharma.

Also Read | '...based on their skill set': Virat Kohli comments on facing Pakistan for first time since epic T20 WC knock

Pakistan's Shadab Khan showers praise on Virat Kohli

While the match is etched in the minds of Indian fans, the opposition players apparently also vividly remember what happened on the pitch on October 23, 2022. Pak spinner Shadab Khan, who was a part of the match, recently recalled the innings of Virat Kohli and expressed his thoughts on the player. Here's what he said. 

"He is a world-class player, definitely. You have to plan a lot to face him. Anyway, in international cricket, there are a lot of mind games, because you definitely have the skill to reach that level. But how you read each other's minds, the bowler and the batter, how they read each other's minds, and it also depends on what the situation is," Shadab said on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues'.

"The kind of batsman that Virat Kohli is, the way he has performed against us, even in the last match at the World Cup, I don't think that if any other batsman in the world was in that situation could have done that to our bowling line-up. And the beauty of it is that he can do this at any stage and at any time." 

While Pakistan may dread a similar showcase of Kohli in the future, Indians would hope his continuous affair continues. India and Pakistan are expected to have 4 potential meetings in the current quarter. Thus, all eyes would be on Kohli, as to how he approaches the challenge.