Virat Kohli Earns Praise From Pakistan's Rashid Latif Ahead Of T20 World Cup

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has expressed significant admiration for India’s cricket star Virat Kohli, noting that current Pakistani players are also fans of Kohli.

The intense rivalry between India and Pakistan is set to reignite as the two nations face off in the T20 World Cup 2024 on Sunday, June 9. Both teams had commendable campaigns in the 2022 edition but fell short of winning the trophy. This year, they aim for a better performance.

The match, taking place in New York, will feature top-tier players from both sides. Pakistan boasts talents like Babar Azam and Mohammad Amir, while India has its own cricketing giants.

Rashid Latif, a former captain of Pakistan, believes there is no player bigger than Virat Kohli. He states that Kohli has numerous fans in Pakistan, including among current players. Latif also shared his own admiration for Sachin Tendulkar, recalling how he never wanted to dismiss Tendulkar during matches.

"Virat has a lot of fans in Pakistan and also the players playing are his fans," Latif said to PTI. "Like I also say whenever Sachin used to play earlier, I never wanted him to get out. The world was paying to watch him bat but I was sitting behind the stumps and enjoying it for free," he added humorously.

Kohli’s Stellar IPL Performance

Virat Kohli had an exceptional IPL 2024 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Amid doubts about his batting form, Kohli scored 741 runs and won the Orange Cap, awarded to the highest scorer of the IPL. Latif believes this performance will transform Kohli into an even more formidable player in the World Cup.

"Virat Kohli is a different player after this IPL. It will be really interesting to see where he bats in this World Cup," Latif commented.

World Cup Performance

Despite his stellar IPL season, Kohli struggled in the first match of the T20 World Cup. The 35-year-old was dismissed for just one run against Ireland. However, India secured a comfortable victory by eight wickets.