‘Who is harder to face in the nets, Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli?’ Mohammed Shami gives an invaluable answer

Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who has been out of action since the 2023 ODI World Cup, returned to the nets recently. After a brilliant outing with the ball in the World Cup, Shami is recovering from an ankle injury which saw him miss the 2024 T20 World Cup. Known for his late knock, Shami scalped an impressive total of 24 wickets in seven games in the ODI World Cup and emerged as the leading wicket-taker. Recently, Shami appeared on a podcast and gave some hilarious details about his bonding with captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Shubhankar MishrA asked Shami about this between Rohit and Virat, who is more difficult to face in the nets.

Shami said, “They (Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma) don’t like to face me in the nets. I have said this in many interviews. It’s like a very friendly bond with Virat. We keep challenging each other. He tries to play different shots against me, while I try to fire him. This friendship keeps us motivated, which helps us give one hundred percent.”

“I always prepare the pitch well and then ask Virat to come and bat against me. Rohit never agrees to face me in the nets. He immediately says no. I have dismissed Virat two or three times in the nets. He always gets irritated,” he added .

The 33-year-old pacer also revealed that Ishant Sharma and Kohli are two of his good friends from the Indian team.

“There is a group of close friends that includes Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli and some former cricketers and we keep talking on the phone. But it’s not like we talk regularly,” Shami said.

Shami is an important player in the Indian lineup and the entire country is desperately waiting to see him back in action.