Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the greatest batsman in the history of the sport. His career in cricket spanned almost three decades and the players who had the chance to share a dressing room with Tendulkar or even the field against Tendulkar consider it a major privilege in their lives. Those who missed that opportunity continue to regret it.
Afghan spin sensation Rashid Khan is no different. In a recent conversation with Cricwick on Youtube, Rashid Khan admitted that he would love to bowl to Sachin Tendulkar.
When the interviewer pointed out that in the last 13 years of his One-Day career, Tendulkar got out to leg spin just once, Rashid said, “That is why I want to bowl to him because he hardly used to get out to leg-spin. More than getting him out, it would be a huge pleasure to bowl to someone like Sachin Tendulkar. Getting him out or not out is a different thing, just bowling to him would be like a dream come true.”
The Afghan star spinner was also effusive in his praise for current Indian captain Virat Kohli. Since Tendulkar’s retirement, Virat Kohli has risen to the mantle and has shouldered the responsibilities with his bat. Rashid Khan lauded Kohli’s meticulous planning and pacing of innings during run-chases and how disciplined he is.
“If there is any other batsman, he will come under pressure if you bowl well to him. He will play a shot which is not his strength, like sweep, a slog sweep or any other different stroke,” Rashid said
“But Virat will follow his own process. He goes with his mind. He has his own style and he goes with that. He doesn’t do anything different. I think that is why he is very successful. He has a process.”
“He will respect good balls. He will punish loose balls. He has great self-belief. Some batsmen don’t have self-belief. That is why they struggle. He believes in his own strength,” Rashid added.
Virat Kohli will soon be in action in the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand. The premier showdown begins from June 18 at The Rose Bowl in Southampton.
