Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed shares a heartfelt message for Virat Kohli, calling him a true inspiration on and off the field. Read his touching words for the Indian legend!
New Delhi: Pakistan’s leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons during the 2025 Champions Trophy match against India. After dismissing Shubman Gill, he taunted the Indian opener with a celebratory gesture, sparking controversy. Despite delivering an impressive spell of 10 overs, conceding just 28 runs and taking one wicket, Abrar couldn’t prevent Virat Kohli from stealing the show. The Indian cricket legend remained unbeaten on 100, guiding India to a commanding victory.
Nearly a week after the intense India-Pakistan clash, Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed went against former cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq‘s call to isolate India. Instead, he took to Instagram to express his admiration for his childhood hero, Virat Kohli. In a heartfelt post, Abrar praised the Indian legend, showing his respect despite the on-field rivalry.
Despite the heated India-Pakistan rivalry, Abrar Ahmed openly expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli. Sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram, he wrote,
“Bowling to my childhood hero Virat Kohli. Grateful for his appreciation—his greatness as a cricketer is only matched by his humility as a person. A true inspiration on and off the field!”
His post came nearly a week after the match, defying Inzamam-ul-Haq’s call to isolate India, and instead, highlighting Kohli’s impact on cricketers worldwide.
Speaking on a Pakistani TV channel, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq urged cricket boards to prevent their players from participating in the IPL. He argued that since Indian players do not feature in other T20 leagues, other boards should take a stand and stop sending their players to the IPL.
Chasing a target of 242, India lost captain Rohit Sharma early for 20 off 15 balls. However, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill built a solid 69-run partnership for the second wicket. Kohli then combined with Shreyas Iyer for a crucial 114-run stand, guiding India closer to victory.
When India needed just two runs to win, Kohli was on 96. He sealed the match in style with a boundary, reaching his century and securing India’s place in the semi-finals.
The loss ended Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, as they finished without a single win. Their last group-stage match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain. With this victory, India advanced to the semi-finals, where they will face either South Africa or Australia.
The first semi-final will be held in Dubai, while the second is scheduled for Lahore. If India reaches the final, the summit clash will be moved out of Pakistan. The final of the 2025 Champions Trophy is set to take place on March 9.
