Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has opined on facing superstar batter Virat Kohli on his T20I debut against India, calling it a good experience. However, Naseem made his T20I debut against India in the 2022 T20 Asia Cup in Dubai. Notably, he was ruled out of the 2023 ODI World Cup as he sustained a shoulder injury during the 2023 Asia Cup. But he is set to make his comeback in the 2024 season of the Pakistan Super League, where he’ll play for Islamabad United.

Speaking on the Islamabad United Podcast, Naseem Shah said, “I have good memories of my T20I debut against India. India versus Pakistan is the most important match when it comes to the crowds and intensity on the field and that was my debut match. I was naturally a bit nervous since it was my debut. But the good thing for me was that I had played a lot of cricket before, I had played Tests and ODIs, which helped me.”

He revealed his game plan against Kohli on his T20I debut, calling the experience a good one as it prepared him to handle pressure early in his career. Kohli scored 35 runs off 34 balls as India beat Pakistan by 5 runs in Dubai on Naseem’s debut.

“When Virat Kohli came in to bat, I thought he would go hard. So I bowled an in-swinger hoping that it might catch his pad but he let it go. The next delivery I bowled an out-swinger, caught the edge but yeah, the catch got dropped. But it was a good experience because when you make your debut against a big team and under so much pressure then you get a margin in other matches,” Naseem added.

“I remember the match against India in Melbourne, I couldn’t hear Babar’s voice despite him standing next to me. That is how loud it was. The crowds focus on each and every ball. So it’s obvious that pressure would be there if there is so much focus on this game,” concluded Naseem Shah.