Haris Rauf: “Everyone praises Kohli for his batting and he is a world-class player. I always have fun bonding with him. With his world-class batting, Kohli poses a stiff challenge to any bowler and it’s the same with me”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has admitted that it is challenging to bowl to India batsman Virat Kohli as “he is a world-class player”.
Kohli is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world and has been in sizzling form as of late, notching up a number of big scores.
Rauf looks forward to bowling to the 36-year-old as he knows taking his wicket is always a big deal.
That said, he also made it clear that he has a fun time bonding with Kohli.
“Everyone praises Kohli for his batting and he is a world-class player. I always have fun bonding with him. With his world-class batting, Kohli poses a stiff challenge to any bowler and it’s the same with me,” he told Telecom Asia Sport as quoted by NDTV.
“The best thing about bowling to him is you learn a lot of things in that match.”
Rauf recently played in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, where he took one wicket in the opening match against the Black Caps at an average of 23.
However, he was subsequently diagnosed with a muscular sprain in his chest and missed the remainder of the series.
The 31-year-old returned in time for the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he picked up two wickets in two games at an average of 67.50.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India in the tournament, which led to them getting knocked out in the group stage.
Their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
The men in green then embarked on a tour of New Zealand and Rauf kicked off his campaign with eight wickets in four T20Is at an average of 12.25.
In the three-match ODI series, he finished with three wickets in two games at an average of 37.66.
Rauf will now represent the Lahore Qalandars in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
PSL 10 will be held from April 11 to May 18.
Lahore Qalandars Squad for PSL 10:
- Platinum: Daryl Mitchell, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain)
- Diamond: Haris Rauf, Kusal Perera, Sikandar Raza
- Gold: Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan
- Silver: Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, David Wiese, Muhammad Akhlaq, Rishad Hossain
- Emerging: Mohammad Azab, Momin Qamar
- Supplementary: Muhammad Naeem, Sam Billings, Salman Ali Mirza, Tom Curran
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