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Haris Rauf Opens Up on Wanting to Pick 'This' Indian Batter's Wicket in T20 World Cup 2022

image-lg52u67cRauf wanted to pick Rohit Sharma's wicket [Twitter]

The cricketing world witnessed the match of a lifetime when India and Pakistan clashed in the T20 World Cup 2022 Down Under at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The match will forever be remembered for Virat Kohli's masterclass, which helped India chase down 160-run target on the final ball of the match.

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf, who suffered the brunt of Kohli's on-slaught in the penultimate over, has revealed that he wanted to claim Rohit Sharma's wicket the moment he saw the Indian skipper during the national anthems.

Rauf's wish came true as the fast bowler picked up Sharma's scalp on his second ball to the batter, inducing an edge to the first slip.

Speaking on the Cricwick podcast, Rauf further added that Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav remain his most-priced wickets in the T20 World Cup.

Interestingly, Rauf had earlier picked Sharma's wicket during Pakistan's Super Four clash against India in the Asia Cup 2022. 

Here's what Rauf said

“In the recent T20 World Cup against India, I got the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. When I saw Rohit Sharma during the national anthem, I said to myself that I have to get his wicket and when I saw him, he looked quite intimidating and different. 

His body language and all that, I didn’t like it. So I said to myself that if I get his wicket, I’ll enjoy it a lot. Allah did it for me, but I made the effort,”

Rauf himself has mentioned that no one could have slammed him for those two massive sixes on consecutive deliveries if not for Kohli. The star-batter struck Rauf for sixes in the 19th over on the last two deliveries, reducing India's target to 16 in the final over. 

Starting his career as a tape-ball bowler, Rauf's rise in international cricket has been inspirational for many.

The 29-year-old has played one Test, 18 ODIs, and 57 T20Is for Pakistan since 2020, scalping over 103, combined.