During the pre-match chat in Colombo for the India-Pakistan Super Four showdown, Wasim Akram pleasantly surprised Virat Kohli with his latest revelation. The veteran Pakistani seamer shared an unexpected occurrence – Virat Kohli appearing in his dreams. This revelation raised eyebrows considering Virat Kohli\’s global cricketing prominence and the fact that he garners more attention than most of his contemporaries. Wasim attributed this unusual dream to the intense buildup surrounding the India-Pakistan match and his continuous exposure to Virat\’s recent performances on television.
In a brief interaction before the match commenced, the Pakistani cricket legend openly disclosed his dream to Virat. He recounted the moment, saying, \”As I passed by him today, I mentioned to Virat Kohli that you\’ve begun featuring in my dreams.\” Virat, intrigued by this revelation, responded, \”What do you mean, Wasim bhai?\” Wasim clarified, \”I see so much of you on the television screen that I just can\’t get you out of my mind.\”
When discussing Virat and other cricketing superstars from both teams, Wasim emphasized the match-winning potential of players like Kohli, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. He underscored that players of their caliber are destined to shine in high-stakes contests such as India vs. Pakistan.
Wasim continued by stating that star players from both India and Pakistan are driven to excel, especially during these high-pressure clashes. He mentioned, \”Virat, Babar, Shaheen, and all these match-winners play this game for moments like India vs. Pakistan. It\’s not limited to just players like Virat Kohli and Babar Azam; even young players find motivation in these matches. These games are electrifying, and the entire Colombo was buzzing yesterday.\”
In the actual match, India got off to a strong start in Colombo as they batted first against Pakistan\’s formidable bowling lineup. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill effectively countered the initial threat posed by the talented duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. In contrast to their previous encounter, India\’s opening pair delivered an outstanding performance, forging a 121-run partnership. Both Gill and Rohit achieved their respective half-centuries but lost their wickets in quick succession.
However, rain intervened, disrupting play with India at 147 for two in 24.1 overs. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were at the crease, with scores of eight and 17, respectively.
To secure a place in the final, India must win at least two of the three games in the Super Four stage. After the Pakistan ODI, India will face Sri Lanka on September 12 and Bangladesh on September 15.