These days cricketers from across the world are engaging in different activities to pass the time as the coronavirus pandemic has stopped all the cricketing action. Be it former or currently active players, most of them are seen participating in chat sessions on either Instagram or YouTube, revealing some unknown secrets and their favourite stars of the captivating game.
Following the trend, former Pakistani pacer Umar Gul featured in a recent conversation with sports presenter Sawera Pasha on her YouTube channel ‘CricCast’. Gul, who was the highest wicket-taker of the 2007 T20 World Cup, revealed his favourite batsman during the interaction.
Gul said that he loves watching the current Team India skipper Virat Kohli. The 36-year-old speedster also disclosed that legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was his favourite batsman until the arrival of Kohli at the big stage.
“It was Sachin Tendulkar but currently Virat Kohli. In the last 4-5 years, the way Virat Kohli has been performing, he is my favourite batsman. The way he has changed himself. His behaviour on the field when he started playing against us to now has totally changed,” said Gul.
There is no doubt that Tendulkar had leapfrogged everyone in terms of run-making as well as popularity across the world. In fact, one wouldn’t be wrong to say that Mumbaikar has inspired an entire generation to take this fascinating game seriously.
However, after the ‘Master Blaster’, if there is one batter who is equally famous and loved by fans is definitely Kohli. The Delhi cricketer has already smashed 43 centuries in ODIs and is just seven hundred short of ascending Tendulkar’s tally of 49 tons.
Gul also said that Kohli only focuses on his performance and he loves watching his batting style.
“All his concentration now is on his performances. The way he plays, I enjoy watching his batting,” added Gul.
Gul was Pakistan’s frontline bowler and played his cricket between the period of 2006 and 2012. The Peshawar-born paceman appeared in 47 Tests, 130 ODIs, and 60 T20Is, in which he bagged 163, 179 and 85 wickets, respectively.
