‘He hasn’t sledged me since then’- Imrul Kayes reveals how Tamim Iqbal stopped Virat Kohli from sledging him

Imrul Kayes, the Bangladesh left-handed batsman, went down the memory lane to the time when Virat Kohli, the current Indian skipper, used to sledge him. In 2011, Imrul and Virat came face to face only once in the World Cup. During the match in Dhaka, Virat tried to get under the southpaw’s skin. In that match, Kayes scored 34 runs off 29 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

Kayes was a little taken aback as he felt that he shared a healthy camaraderie with Virat, who was playing his first World Cup. After Kohli’s taunting got out of hand, Kayes reported the matter to Tamim Iqbal, who went on to give Virat a taste of his own medicine. As per Kayes, ever since that incident,  the now 31-year-old Virat hasn’t tried to ruffle him.

Tamim can do these well, he is very aggressive: Imrul Kayes

“Kohli and I attended a camp in Australia in 2007. We have had a good relationship ever since. I played against him for the first time in 2011 after joining the national team. Kohli was constantly sledging me. I was surprised. He was still sledging after having such a good relationship,” Kayes was quoted as saying in Cricfrenzy on Wednesday, May 13.

“I thought he was still sledging after a good month! But I did not answer myself. I told Tamim that he was sledging. Then Tamim sledged him again. Tamim can do these well, he is very aggressive on the field. Kohli has not sledged me since then,” he added.

However, Kayes didn’t forget to laud Virat for his stupendous achievements for Team India. “He’s at his level, a legendary player. We don’t have to do such calculations with him. One thing is for sure, he still remembers us after becoming such a great player. He speaks on his own,” Kayes added.

Kayes has played three Tests, five ODIs and a solitary T20I against India when Virat was on the opposition team. As far as sledging is concerned, earlier, fast bowler Rubel Hossain also said how Virat used to sledge vigorously in their U19 days. Even at the highest level, both Rubel and Virat have had some serious altercations.