February 18th 2025.
As the highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy approaches, pacer Haris Rauf is feeling confident and ready to face off against legendary batsman Virat Kohli. The last time these two teams met in the 2022 T20 World Cup, Kohli had hit two consecutive sixes off of Rauf, leading India to a memorable victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This had earned Kohli a lot of praise on social media and from former cricketers.
Despite the unforgettable moment, Rauf reveals that Kohli never teased him about it and instead views him as a world-class player who can take on any bowler. "Kohli never said a word about those sixes and all the talk on social media is rubbish. Everyone praises Kohli for his batting and he is a world-class player. I always have fun bonding with him," Rauf shared with Telecom Asia Sport.
But with Kohli's exceptional batting skills, Rauf knows that he will face a tough challenge in the upcoming match. However, he sees this as an opportunity to improve his own skills. "I relish that challenge and when we play against India in Dubai come Sunday, it will be a match full of challenges. The best thing about bowling to him is you learn a lot of things in that match," he said.
Rauf, who is currently recovering from a side strain, is expected to be fit for the tournament opener against New Zealand on Wednesday. He is satisfied with his progress and is eager to contribute to the team's success. "I am recovering well. I have bowled with speed in the training session, so it looks good for Wednesday. I am satisfied with myself, but it will be up to the management to decide on my inclusion," Rauf stated.
While Pakistan only has one specialist spinner in their squad in the form of Abrar Ahmed, Rauf believes they have enough spin-bowling options in Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha. "We do not have only one spinner. We can use Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha and whoever is in good form will be useful," he explained.
As Pakistan hosts a global event after a long time, Rauf hopes to play a role in the team's triumph and defend their title. "Pakistan is staging a global event after a long, long time, so it's my wish that I play a part in the team's triumph and we can defend our title," he expressed.
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