Ace Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has rapidly become a force to reckon with in international cricket. Developed into one of the most fearsome left-arm fast bowlers in the world, Shaheen has consistently impressed with his pace, accuracy, and ability to swing the ball both ways. His towering height allows him to extract extra bounce off the pitch, making life difficult for batters across the globe.
Shaheen’s performances have earned him widespread recognition, and he has become the spearhead of Pakistan’s bowling attack. His impact in all formats of the game has been immense, especially in limited-overs cricket, where he often delivers crucial breakthroughs during the powerplays and death overs.
Shaheen Afridi’s favorite knock in international cricket
In a recent interview, Shaheen was asked to pick his favorite knock that he has witnessed in international cricket. Without hesitation, the lanky fast bowler chose Indian superstar Virat Kohli’s iconic unbeaten 82 against Pakistan in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup.
For Shaheen, Kohli’s innings was not just about the runs; it was the sheer brilliance of how he handled the pressure, particularly against one of Pakistan’s best bowlers, Haris Rauf. The precision and timing with which Kohli struck the ball made a lasting impact on Shaheen, who couldn’t stop marveling at the exceptional cricketing skills on display.
“Virat Kohli’s 82 – I have never seen a better innings than that in my career. He is a Great player – That ball was Haris Rauf’s best ball, and he hit six straight down the ground was unbelievable,” said Shaheen on Star Sports.
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The memorable innings
Notably, Kohli’s unbeaten 82 against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup will go down as one of the finest T20 innings ever played. India were in a precarious position at 31/4, chasing 160 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, when Kohli orchestrated a miraculous turnaround. His partnership with Hardik Pandya slowly brought India back into the game, but it was in the final overs where Kohli truly showed his class.
With India needing 28 runs off the last 8 balls, Kohli took on Rauf. The moment that defined the match came when Kohli played an audacious shot, sending a perfectly executed delivery from Rauf straight over the bowler’s head for six. That particular shot left everyone in awe, including Shaheen, who later described it as one of the most unbelievable shots he had ever seen.
Kohli’s calm demeanor, his ability to find gaps, and his incredible shot selection under immense pressure led India to a last-ball victory. His innings demonstrated not only his technical prowess but also his mental strength, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest cricketers of all time.
