After announcing his Test retirement in 2019 to prolong his white-ball career, Pakistan speedster Mohammad Amir eventually bid adieu to international cricket last year, citing that he was “being mentally tortured” by the team management.
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The left-arm pacer represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is. He picked up 259 wickets across three formats of the game.
The highlight of Amir’s career was his stunning spell (3/16 in 6 overs) in the final of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 against arch-rivals India. He had dismissed India’s big guns, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, to script Pakistan’s huge win in the summit clash.
Reflecting on the game, Amir said he relishes pressure situations and bowling to world’s top batsman like Kohli.
"I enjoy bowling in pressure situations. Similarly, I live matching up to the best batsmen in the world. Kohli’s performances speak for themselves, we don’t need to say anything. He’s proven himself in every format. He’s shown why he’s called King Kohli. He too wins pressure situations. I like bowling to him. Bowlers will keep getting batsmen out and it gives me immense satisfaction knowing that people like the idea of Kohli and I squaring off," Amir said in an interview with Cricwick.
The contests between Amir and Kohli have been fascinating over the years. Apart from the Champions Trophy, they have also faced each other in the 2016 Asia Cup, 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2019 ODI World Cup.
While the Kohli-Amir rivalry grabs everyone’s attention, the left-armer also had some riveting duels with Rohit Sharma.
Sharing his thoughts on India’s star batsmen, Amir said he doesn't find bowling to either Rohit or Kohli tough. However, he mentioned that Rohit is easier to bowl to given his struggles against the moving ball.
"I haven't found it tough bowling to either. In fact, I find it easy to bowl to him (Rohit). I feel that I can get him out both ways. He struggles against the in-swinger from a left-armer and as well as against the ball that goes away early on. I may say that I find bowling to Virat slightly tougher because he revels in pressure situations, but otherwise, I've never found it difficult bowling to either of the two," Amir remarked.
