When Haris Rauf Spoke About His First Training Session With Virat Kohli

image-lrhg2p5jRauf met Kohli for the first time in Sydney [X.com]

Virat Kohli was going about his preparations and pre-match routines for the New Year's Test in Sydney during India's 2018-19 trip to Australia when he first met Pakistan seamer Haris Rauf as one of the net seamers. 

Rauf, identified by Lahore Qalandars for a training programme in Australia, was playing for a club Down Under when he was invited to help the Indian team prep-up in the net sessions. Not in the international reckoning back then, the speedster had his Pakistan debut prophecied by the then India captain.

Impressed by the pace and movement he was generating, Kohli went up to Rauf and told him:

 "You will be playing for Pakistan in six months." As it happened, the raw pacer "played for Pakistan in 8-9 months" as he was asked to join Pakistan's T20I side soon on the back of his fruitful Big Bash League (BBL) campaign.

When Kohli Backed Rauf To Play For Pakistan 

Speaking to Pakistan-based 'Geo News' channel, Rauf revealed the interaction with Kohli and how big an influence he was in giving him the confidence and belief that he could represent Pakistan. 

Since then, the pacer has played 1 Test, 37 ODIs and 65 T20Is for the Asian giants and said he treats Kohli as the biggest scalp available in the opposition line-up for the sheer greatness he stands for. 

"I cherish all my wickets, but if I have to pick one, then it has to be Virat Kohli," said Rauf, who also revealed how the then India coach Ravi Shastri refers to those net sessions whenever he catches up with him. 

"Whenever I meet Shastri, he always reminds me how I was a net bowler once and now you have made a name and earned fame. So, he knows where I came from and he is happy to see me," he added. 

Rauf was part of one of Kohli's legacy-defining moments during the high-octane India versus Pakistan T20 World Cup fixture played in Melbourne. With India requiring 28 off 8 balls, Kohli dispatched the seamer for a pair of great maximums to boost his team's chances and ultimately propelled them through.