Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan praised Virat Kohli following their team’s defeat, highlighting Kohli’s remarkable performance in the ICC Champions Trophy. Kohli, who had been struggling recently, scored an impressive unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, achieving the fastest 14,000 ODI runs milestone. Rizwan admired Kohli’s fitness and hard work, emphasizing his ability to excel under pressure despite doubts about his form. Reflecting on Pakistan’s loss, Rizwan acknowledged shortcomings in all three game departments but noted Abrar’s bowling as a positive. With this setback, Pakistan’s chances of advancing in the tournament now rely on Bangladesh’s performance against New Zealand.
It’s not often easy to sit before the media and avoid praising a player from the opposing team. However, for Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, it was essential to acknowledge Virat Kohli, who played a brilliant innings that nearly eliminated the ICC Champions Trophy hosts. Kohli came into the match against Pakistan following a disappointing spell that led to frequent questions about his position in the team. Nevertheless, he astonished everyone with his performance, sending Pakistan’s bowlers across the field.
Virat made a triumphant return to form with an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, featuring seven fours, delighting cricket fans everywhere. He also achieved notable milestones, becoming the fastest player to reach 14,000 ODI runs.
In the press conference after Pakistan’s loss, Rizwan was not only captivated by Virat’s effortless batting display but also impressed by the fitness level the Indian star has sustained, even at the age of 36. As questions poured in from the media, Rizwan chose to pause and first pay tribute to Virat, who once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the all-time greats.
“First, let’s speak about Virat Kohli. I am astounded by his dedication. He must have put in a tremendous amount of effort. The world claims he is out of form, yet he shows up for such significant matches, which everyone anticipates, and he effortlessly strikes the ball – and this is precisely where we don’t want to concede runs. Yet he plays and slips away from us, scoring freely,” Rizwan stated during the post-match press conference, leaving everyone in awe of his admiration for the Indian star.
“I will certainly commend his fitness and hard work, the manner in which he has accomplished it. Because he is a cricketer, and we are cricketers too. We tried diligently to dismiss him, but he took control of the game. He has worked extremely hard. The entire world claimed he was out of form – yet he performed in this crucial match,” he continued.
While evaluating his team’s performance, Rizwan candidly admitted that his side faltered in all three facets of the game.
“Regarding the match, you feel disappointed. When you lose, it’s a tough day, difficult aspects arise, and questions are raised. However, if you assess everything, you can’t pinpoint a mistake in any department, except for Abrar’s bowling, which was the most positive aspect of this match. We have not committed any errors. All three areas have underperformed, which is why we lost the match,” he explained.
After facing a second consecutive defeat, Pakistan’s chances of maintaining their title defense have significantly diminished. The fate of Pakistan now lies with Bangladesh. If the Tigers can pull off an upset against New Zealand in Rawalpindi on Monday, the Men in Green will still have a chance to continue their campaign.
With ANI Inputs
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