Pakistan’s fast bowling sensation Haris Rauf, who recently outshined during the 2019-20 season of Big Bash League, feels that bowling to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shall be the biggest challenge in the T20 World Cup. The Indian toporder is sturdy and stupendous, with the likes of Rohit, Virat, Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. Rohit Sharma scored five centuries in during the 2019 ODI World Cup and made a mark at the grand stage. “This being a World Cup competition, the quality of opposition will be very tough as top players from each country will be playing in it so all batsmen will be difficult to bowl to. But looking at the top T20I players in the world, to be the greatest challenge will come from the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,” Rauf, the Rawalpindi-born pacer told a Pakistani media channel.
“To do well against such top-quality batsmen will do wonders for my confidence and to be honest, based on my experience in BBL, I should be able to do well in the World Cup if given a chance. It is my nature that I don’t let any batsman dominate me,” added Rauf, who has been a pivotal striker for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as well. Rohit and Virat have athletically matched each other ton for ton, especially since the former’s promotion at the opening slot in 2013. Between the two, the mutual understanding and running between the wickets has often enabled the prolific duo to build colossal partnerships, demoralizing the opposition glibly.
Rauf, together with his teammates like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammed Hasnain, ensured that Pakistan’s line of manufacturing pacers is evergreen. The 26-year old Rauf, who plays for Melbourne Stars, picked up 20 wickets in the recent tournament of big bash league. His sensational performances earned him a debut cap against Bangladesh earlier in 2020. “It’s a given that any Pakistan versus India game comes with its own special pressure and tension. The pressure is equally high on both sides with supporters of each side wanting to win at all costs. For me, any game such as the one between Pakistan and India, which has more pressure in it brings out the best in me,” Rauf said