Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan lavished rich praise on India's great Virat Kohli and revealed one quality that separates the cricketer from others of his generation and current lot.
According to Shadab, Virat’s discipline and work ethic are second to none, and that makes him stand out from the others.
“Ek toh uska jo routine hai, work ethics. Discipline bahut zyada hai. Mentally bahut zyada strong ho gaye hai, kyuki vo jis level par thei, khel khel kar bhi hota hai insaan, lekin mujhe lagta hai ki vo discipline ki wajah se bahut zyada… Discipline ka bahut fark hai (Virat aur bakiyo mein)," Shadab said on the Geo News.
Shadab has played numerous matches for Pakistan against India since his international debut in 2017. He spoke openly about his contacts with Kohli during matches, describing him as a really wonderful human being.
“Bahut acha hai, jitna bada vo superstar hai, agar aap usse miloge toh apko kabhi bhi vo feel nahi karwayega. Aur sabse pehle vo khud baat shuru karta hai. Mujhe lagta hai, as a human, vo bahut acha hai. TV par shayad aisa lgta hai ki bahut zyada aggressive hai lekin nature-wise bahut acha hai (He is very good. As big a superstar as he is, if you meet him, you will never feel that way. And first of all, he starts the conversation himself. I feel that as a human, he is very good. On TV, it may seem that he is too aggressive but nature-wise he is very good),” Shadab added.
Shadab, a former Pakistan vice-captain and T20I captain, was also asked to pick one Indian player who he wants to play for Men in Green. He picked India’s pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
“Hum ek cheej lack kar rahe hai, fast bowling all-rounder. Aur agar us type ka all-rounder hume mil jayega toh humari Pakistan team ka combination bahut acha ho jayega,” he said.
India is set to take on Pakistan in the second Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.