Pakistan’s right-handed middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha has admitted that he texted India’s star batter Virat Kohli back in 2023.
Agha, who was part of Pakistan’s squad for the Asia Cup 2023, talked in a podcast with Pakistan Super League (PSL) side Islamabad United where he shed light on his interaction with the Indian batter.
He stated that he respects Kohli so much and sent a message to him during Pakistan’s series against New Zealand.
“I have so much respect for Virat Kohli, I don't think there is any cricket fan in the world who doesn’t respect him,” Agha said in a video. “I texted him, I am not going to tell you the complete details but will just tell you the start. It started with “Virat Bhai”, I texted him when he had a fight with Gautam Gambhir [during IPL 2023].”
“Me, Abdullah Shafique and Usama Mir were sitting together and watching a match, I think New Zealand were playing a series against Pakistan back then. There was nothing [negative] in that message that would make people think I said something bad,” he added.
Agha then added that he told Shadab Khan about sending message to Kohli who then went on to discuss the topic when the two met with the Indian star during the 2023 Asia Cup.
“I mistakenly told Shadab Khan about texting Virat. You have watched the video of me, Shadab and Virat standing together [during Asia Cup 2023], actually, at that time, he [Shadab] had told him [Virat] that he [I] texted him,” he added.
“We had a bit of laughter after I told Virat that I texted you this, he then told me he may have missed the message as he receives thousands of messages every day. It was all Shadab’s doing [telling Kohli].”
- Virat Kohli
