Haseeb Hameed and Virat Kohli [Source: @Ben_Wisden, @ImTanujSingh/x]
England batter Haseeb Hameed has paid a heartfelt tribute to former Indian Test player and all-format great Virat Kohli. In prolific touch in the ongoing County Championship season in England for Nottinghamshire, Hameed recalled some invaluable inputs he received from the Indian legend back in 2016, when the English team toured India for a Test series.
The series, also Hameed’s first set of international fixtures, turned out to be a mixed bag for the then 19-year-old. He has so far played 10 Tests in his career, with the last of them being the fourth Ashes Test from January 2022 at the SCG.
Haseeb Hameed Has A “Lot Of Respect” For Virat Kohli
During an interview with the Hindustan Times, England’s Test discard and Nottinghamshire run-machine Haseeb Hameed praised then Indian captain Virat Kohli for finding time in helping the youngster on his debut Test tour back in late-2016.
Hameed added that he has a “lot of respect” for the legendary Indian batter, and praised his humble nature for always lending a helping hand. He said:
“Virat Kohli has been Super helpful. Every time I've had any sort of query about batting, he's happy to go as long as we need. I've got a lot of respect for him, always had. In terms of what he's done for me as a person, as a player, through my difficult moments, it speaks a lot about him as a character, his humility and the way he goes about things.”
With Haseeb Hameed grinding it out to make his return to England’s Test setup, the cricketer has emerged as the second highest run-maker of the ongoing 2025 County Championship season. In 16 innings spanning nine matches, Hameed has aggregated 848 runs at a prolific average of 70.66, plundering two tons and four fifties in the process.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, retired from Test cricket a couple of months ago after undergoing one of the worst slumps of his career.