'Yeh Ek nahin, yeh gyarah hai' - Saqlain Mushtaq reveals his advice for Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid to dismiss Virat Kohli

There are only a few players in a generation who would be found intimidating by every opposition. This is something Virat Kohli can do very easily. This is why every time any team plays against India, they have a bunch of things to keep in mind but their priority is always to get the Indian skipper out early.

The great Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has revealed what he would occasionally tell the England spin-bowling duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid. Saqlain served as a spin-bowling consultant of the England cricket team for several series in the past few years. The off-spinner has revealed that he would tell him to treat Kohli as an entire team rather than a single individual.

As the No 1 batsman, he will have an ego: Saqlain Mushtaq on Virat Kohli

“Yeh Ek nahin, yeh gyarah hai (he is equal to 11 players). I would just tell them Virat’s wicket is like bowling out the entire Indian team. He is like XI players in one, you have to see him like that,” the 43-year-old said in an Instagram Live with Nikhil Naz. “As a bowler, you have to be clear in your mind. Yes, you have a world-class player who is at the top of his game and does not face any issue against any type of spinner, be it left-arm, offie or a leggie.”

It should be noted that both Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali have had success against Kohli. The duo has dismissed the Indian captain six times each at the international level.

“But I would tell them the pressure is more on him not you, as the whole world is watching him. You have to be clear in your mind” Saqlain said.

I named it Virat-wala delivery

Adil Rashid also got a magic delivery that worked well against Kohli. During one of the ODIs against England in 2018 at Headingley, Kohli was cleaned up with a delivery that pitched around the leg, turned sharply, and clipped the off-stump. The reaction of the Indian maestro after getting out tells you the story.

Saqlain had named it as “Virat-wala delivery” and would encourage Rashid to consistently practice that during the nets.

“It was a wide ball and had a lot of drift and clipped the bail. I would tell him to bowl Virat-wala delivery so that he keeps producing that at the nets. It’s about putting your soul into the ball. Yes, he’s the No 1 player in the world. But if you put your plan, imagination, feeling and passion into the ball, you are no less. As the No 1 batsman, he will have an ego. If you bowl a dot ball to him his ego will get hurt. And if you trap him and get him out, he will be really sad. It’s a mind game, you have to keep your standard high.”

Saqlain also explained that England would always prepare well to be up against Virat Kohli.