Grew up watching Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli play, cannot imagine sledging them: Bangladesh pacer Saifuddin

Bangladesh pacer Mohammad Saifuddin revealed he was in awe of India skipper Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma when his team faced India in the second warm-up at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens ahead of World Cup 2019.

In the practice match, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal had picked up 6 wickets between them as India bundled Bangladesh out for 264. Earlier, KL Rahul and MS Dhoni hit hundreds to help India post 359.

Mohammad Saifuddin, who had played 14 ODIs till then, recalled living his dream of bowling to Kohli and Rohit, two of the world’s best batsmen.

Saifuddin also narrated an interesting conversation with Rohit Sharma before getting the prized wicket of Virat Kohli in the practice match.

“During our practice match at Cardiff, Rohit Sharma was at the striker’s end with Virat Kohli as the non-striker. I told Rohit it’s been 10 to 12 years since I’ve been watching you guys on TV, both of you are our dream cricketers. Now I’m bowling to you and I don’t know what to do,” Saifuddin was quoted as saying by BDCrictime.

“Then Rohit laughed at me and said ‘Good luck’. Then I was trying my best to make sure that I got at least one of them out. Luckily, I was able to dismiss Kohli,” Saifuddin said.

Saifuddin further revealed that he has grown up watching the two India stars play and can’t even imagine sledging them.

“We don’t want to sledge them. We have grown up, seeing them play and we can’t imagine sledging them. Cricket is a gentleman’s game and should remain that way. Also, because there are demerit points, we have to be careful.”