Virat Kohli's mystery extends beyond the mere quantity of runs he has amassed. It also has to do with the intensity displayed on the field by the former captain of India's cricket team. In addition to possessing a keen eye for predictable spaces between fielders, Kohli's rapid singles highlight his game.
Kohli's pace between wickets is among the finest in the globe, thanks to his exceptional fitness. He was, recently, posed a challenging question in a conversation that also included his former Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers in an interview streamed on Youtube.
During an interview, on the ThreeSixty Youtube channel, AB De Villiers asked the former Indian captain Virat Kohli on who is the worst runner in the Indian team. Kohli replied with a big smile and the answer that he gave certainly made the former South African burst into laughter.
“That's a controversial one. Cheteshwar Pujara. I'll tell you a story on it.", Kohli said.
Why did Kohli claim Pujara to be the worst runner in the Indian team?
Kohli then narrated an entire incident involving Cheteshwar Pujara from Centurion Test on the tour of 2018 in South Africa.
“It was the Centurion Test match on the Tour of 2018, and I remember first innings, I walked into the dugout because the stairs are never-ending. As soon as I sat on the seat, I heard celebration. I saw replays on the big screen, Pujara plays first ball to wide mid-on and he runs, I think it was Lungi (Ngidi), picks up the ball and runs him out. First innings, no worries.”
He continued the story and told the viewers and AB De Villiers as to what happened during the second innings as well.
“The second innings Parthiv Patel plays a ball, wide of gully. AB is running behind the ball. After AB has picked up the ball, Pujara has called for the third run. On his call, running to the danger end, when they showed the replays ther was no one on the screen. Quinie just taking the bails off, there was no one there. I was like, 'You were run out in the first innings. How can you be so brave to take on the quickest man on the field and then not be seen on the screen while being run out. That's the worst call I have seen in my life."
Fans react to Kohli claiming Pujara as the worst runner in the Indian team : -
Virat Kohli said - "Cheteshwar Pujara is the worst runner I have run with in between the wickets".
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 21, 2023
Puji bhag bc yaad aagaya😅🤭
— Girish Reddy (@girishreddyt12) March 21, 2023
Pujara be like 😅😅 pic.twitter.com/bszCsr19hx
— CriC Talk(COMMUNITY FOR CRICKET LOVERS) (@INDFAM_BBS) March 21, 2023
He also mentioned the reason , the story about 1st test in South Africa 2018
— Vimlesh Maheshwari (@VimleshMaheshw3) March 21, 2023
Pujji was never this bad until his knee injury made him really slow between the wickets. He wasnt the quickest but wasnt the worst one too. Kohli must thank his stars that he didnt play with Azhar, Ajay Jadeja, Mongia, Prabhakar etc. They were a horrible lot.
— Nish (@flamesnotfire) March 21, 2023
— Long Live Test Cricket (@LongLiveTest) March 21, 2023
Once a legend said : rest is history pic.twitter.com/5P5i78C3OH
— Manoj Verma (@ManojVerma420) March 21, 2023
Pujara RN pic.twitter.com/W2xzhkdCC1
— GAURAV (@ngaurav21) March 21, 2023
And Thus the phrase was discovered 🗿🤣 pic.twitter.com/hewzoE5UwP
— KohlifiedDJ (@Kohlified18King) March 21, 2023