The cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan is undoubtedly one of the biggest in the sporting world. Rivalry aside, there is also mutual respect when it comes to cricketing talents in each other's country.
While most of the Pakistanis envy the rich batting talents of Team India, the same holds true for Indians as far as Pakistan’s fast bowling resources are concerned.
Over the years, Pakistan has produced a number of great pacers. While the likes of Wasim Akram and Mohammad Amir stood out for their craft, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar were known for their sheer pace.
In the list, there was also a speedster who hogged the limelight for his towering height. Standing at 7 feet 1 inch, that pacer is Mohammad Irfan, who played 60 ODIs, 4 Tests and 22 T20Is for Pakistan with moderate success.
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At the start of his career, Irfan toured India and he deceived none other than the great Virat Kohli with his pace.
“When I toured India for the first time, the Indian players were telling me that their coaches and support staff had told them that I bowl only at 130-135 kph and not at much speed.
“Even Virat Kohli told me that the coaches next to him had said to him that I bowl at 130-135 kph only. It’s just that I am tall and will get some bounce but he will survive easily,” Irfan said during a chat with Pakistan broadcaster Sawera Pasha on her Youtube chat show ‘Cric Cast’.
During the 2012-13 series in India, Kohli was expecting Irfan to bowl in the 130s but he was shocked to see the paceman hitting close to 150 kmph.
“So when he was sitting with his pads on, he saw that I delivered the first ball at 145-146 kph. So he thought there might be some issue with the speed gun. And then I bowled at 147 kph, so he told me that he asked his coach if he was telling a lie or there was some issue with the speed gun.
“Virat Kohli told this to me face to face. And when I bowled the next one at 148 kph, he told me that he abused the person next to him asking what sort of medium fast bowler I was, as I was bowling at 150 kph,” Irfan remarked.
