'It was a breakthrough moment for me' - Rahkeem Cornwall recalls the moment when Virat Kohli invited to bowl him in the nets

Rahkeem Cornwall made his international debut in the home Test series against India last year. It was a memorable debut for him as he picked three wickets in the first innings with Cheteshwar Pujara being his maiden scalp. However, his performance in this game don’t stand anything compared to the one in 2016 when he played for President’s XI in a warm-up game against India.

The off-spinner had dismissed the likes of Virat Kohli, Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in the same innings which impressed many. The trio is rated as the best in facing spin bowling in the modern cricket. Cornwall still remembers the way he got each of the three batsmen out on his way to a five-wicket haul.

“That was in a President’s XI game in St Kitts. I got a five-wicket haul in that game as well. I got Kohli lbw and Rahane caught bat-pad. They were basic off-spin deliveries with just a little bit of bounce. I also got Pujara bowled in that match – he was attempting a sweep shot,” the 27-year-old said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

The life-changing moment for Rahkeem Cornwall

However, what followed after the performance in the warm-up match was memorable for Rahkeem Cornwall. Virat Kohli walked up to him and requested to bowl him in the nets ahead of the Test series. The off-spinner terms it as the breakthrough moment in his career. “I see it as a breakthrough moment for me where one of the best batsmen in the world is asking for me to come to bowl to him in the nets.

“You learn a lot. A lot of patience, [that you need to] stick to line and length consistently rather than being all over the place,” he added. Rahkeem Cornwall is currently in England set to play in the three-match Test series starting from July 8. He has so far played two Tests in his career and has scalped 13 wickets including 10 scalps in the only Test against Afghanistan last year.