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England opener Haseeb Hameed has revealed India batting maestro Virat Kohli helped him when the former toured India for the first time with Alastair Cook’s England for a five-match Test series. Haseeb’s parents, who hail from Gujarat’s Bharuch, got a chance to make his international debut for England in the Test match played in Rajkot. Playing his maiden red-ball game, he looked impactful with the batting figures of 31 and 82. However, his form plummeted in the next matches of the series and he also picked up an injury. Following the tour, he didn't feature for England until 2021.
From his disappointing tour, he created a scintillating memory which resided in his mind. In a recent chat with Hindustan Times, Hameed recalled how Virat Kohli displayed humility and helped him during the toughest period of his career. “On that first tour (in 2016), when I had my injury, he was kind enough to spare me a few moments. He shared his number with me and said, ’If ever you want to reach out, please feel free to do so’. That just speaks to what an incredible person (he is). He's probably the biggest superstar in the game, maybe ever, if you look at his social media following,” said Hameed.
Haseeb Hameed’s Test numbers
Haseeb Hameed has played 10 Tests for England in his nine-year international career. In 10 matches, he has scored 439 runs with four fifties in 19 innings. In 2021, he made a comeback against Team India in the Pataudi Trophy 2021. He also toured with England for the Ashes 2021-22, held in Australia.
In the five-match red-ball series played Down Under, he could score only 80 runs in eight innings of four Tests, at an average of 10.00. His last Test appearance was against the Aussie side at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
