WATCH: 'I was told to bowl only at stumps' - Pakistan net bowler reveals the instructions before bowling to Virat Kohli

Former India skipper and the modern-day batting great Virat Kohli is set to be in action for Team India in the highly anticipated upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The batting stalwart has already landed in Dubai to join the Indian team for practice ahead of the marquee international tournament.

Meanwhile, a few net bowlers from Afghanistan and Pakistan got an opportunity to bowl to Virat Kohli in the nets. In the same vein, the net bowler from Pakistan shared his experience of bowling with the Indian batting legend.

"It was a moment of immense pride for me to bowl to Virat Kohli" - Pakistan net bowler

Furthermore, the Faisalabad-based net bowler also revealed the instructions he was given before bowling to Virat Kohli during Team India’s net practice at the ICC Academy in Dubai. 

“For me, it was a moment of immense pride for me to bowl to Virat Kohli. I bowled 8-10 balls to him. I will share these moments on my social media handles to share my happiness,” said the Pakistan net bowler to Sports Yaari.  

“I was told and instructed to bowl him on a good length not on the fourth or fifth stump. He played every ball quite well and comfortably,” he added later on being asked about Virat Kohli’s struggle with the deliveries outside the off stump on the fourth and fifth stump.

Here’s the video:  

PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, INDIA KE BOWLER NE KARAYI ROHIT SHARMA, VIRAT KOHLI KO BOWLING | INTENSE PRACTICE SESSION FULL DETAILS SPORTS YAARI EXCLUSIVE#ViratKohli#HardikPandya#Rishabhpant#RohitSharmapic.twitter.com/RDjZCVkOl0

— Sports Yaari (@YaariSports) February 17, 2025

It will be the fourth appearance for Virat Kohli in the ICC Champions Trophy since he made his debut in the tournament in the 2009 edition. The 36-year-old has been one of the most successful Indian batters in the history of the Champions Trophy since the tournament’s inception in 1998. He has scored 529 runs in 12 innings, including six unbeaten appearances in the 13 matches he has played.

Kohli has an outstanding batting average of 88.16 in his Champions Trophy career, hitting five half-centuries with the bat.

Notably, the Men in Blue will start their journey in the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy with their campaign opener against Bangladesh on February 20, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Following this clash, Rohit Sharma’s men will take on the arch-rivals and the defending champions Pakistan in the high-octane clash on February 23.