Picture Credit: Twitter
No one can forget the date, 24 October 2020. It was the first time that India lost to Pakistan in a World Cup and it was not sheer luck or something. The Men in Blue were completely blown away by Babar Azam and Co. Pakistan won the game by 10 wickets. Yes, 10 wickets. Such was the domination from them that day. While put into bat first, India lost control as they lost both their openers in quick succession. Virat Kohli tried to build an innings and scored a half-century. He got good support from Rishabh Pant. But Pakistan were too good that day.
Their bowling was doing wonders for them but Kohli and Pant were fighting hard. During their partnership, Pant tried to play a reverse sweep but could not connect and the ball hit his pad. Pakistan went for an appeal but the umpire was not convinced and so Babar Azam took a review. In between the replays, Virat Kohli got engaged in a funny banter with Pakistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Rizwan, in a recent conversation, recalled the incident and called Kohli a nice person. “Some things are part of tactics. No doubt Virat Kohli is world’s No. 1. When we play cricket, it’s like family. I remember when we took the review against Pant when he played the reverse sweep, he (Kohli) said… ‘what are you doing? Getting everyone out inside 10 overs?'" Rizwan told Paktv.tv.
“But like I said, these are tactics. Later, when I walked out to bat, I spoke to him then too. Rest, whatever chats took place inside the change room, I can’t disclose but I can say that he’s a very nice person,” he added.
Rizwan had a sensational 2021
Mohammad Rizwan was the chief architect in Pakistan's win that day. The stylish batter scored an unbeaten 79 off 55 balls and helped his team script history against India. Not only that day, but Rizwan also had a great year. He scored 455 Test, 134 ODI, and 1326 T20I runs in 2021. In addition, he was involved in 56 dismissals from behind the wickets across all international formats. However, the 29-year-old is determined to improve further.
“I am only focussed on improving my game. Initially, I used to idolize (Sachin) Tendulkar and then AB de Villiers, but it’s not like I would like to copy them. Yes, I have learnt a lot of things watching them play. As far as learning from Pakistani legends is concerned, I have picked certain things from Misbah-ul-Haq, (Shoaib)Malik, (Mohammad) Hafeez and others,” he stated.