• Home
  • Player Stories
  • Aaj Aapki Khair Nahi Hai When Junaid Khan Warned Virat Kohli With Intimidating Words

'Aaj Aapki Khair Nahi Hai..'- When Junaid Khan Warned Virat Kohli With Intimidating Words

image-lpnrbrgxVirat Kohli and Junaid Khan | Source: X.com

Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan recalled his rivalry with the Indian batting giant Virat Kohli and how he warned him before taking his wicket during the 2012 tour of Pakistan to India. 

During the 2012-13 series in India, Pakistan's left-arm pacer Junaid Khan claimed Virat Kohli's wicket in all three ODI matches. The first ODI in Chennai saw Kohli being bowled for a duck, while in the second ODI at Eden Gardens, he edged one behind the wicket off Junaid's bowling. 

Here’s what the Pakistan left-arm pacer said on Nadir Ali’s podcast: 

“Dande toh bahut saare ke udaye hai magar log jo yaad karte hai wo Virat Kohli ke hai (I have taken wickets of so many batsmen but people always remember Virat Kohli’s wicket)”

Junaid also recalled an incident ahead of the third match in Delhi, where he warned Kohli on the breakfast table before taking his wicket. 

“We have played in the U-19 World Cup, we knew each other. It was my comeback series and I was playing against India for the first time. I got Kohli in the first match and he told me it will not happen again. I got him again in the second and third match. Before the third ODI at the breakfast table, I told him ‘Viru aaj aapki khair nahi hai (Virat you will not be spared today).’ Younis Khan was also there. He said get him out again today. Younis bhai took Virat’s catch.” 

Meanwhile, Junaid Khan spoke highly of Virat Kohli's batting abilities, calling him the ‘World Class Batsman’ and pointed out his recent accomplishment of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most ODI centuries, achieved during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. 

“Virat Kohli is still among the top five batsmen in the World. Especially in the white ball the way he has made records and has recently broken Sachin Tendulkar’s century record. He is a world-class batsman.”  

Virat Kohli made history in the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand by breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most ODI centuries in international cricket. 

Although he achieved a half-century in the final against Australia, the team fell short heavily, continuing their ICC trophy drought.