On the occasion of James Anderson‘s farewell match, Star Sports India paid tribute to the England fast-bowling maestro by sharing an old video of Virat Kohli expressing his admiration for the English legend.
In the heartfelt conversation, Kohli delved into his formative years in cricket, revealing a deep affection for Anderson that began during an England tour. The video celebrated Anderson’s illustrious career and highlighted the personal connections and respect shared among cricket’s elite.
Virat Kohli reveals childhood inspiration for James Anderson
Kohli reminisced about his early days in cricket, revealing a surprising influence. In conversation with Jatin Sapru, Kohli disclosed how he used to emulate Anderson’s bowling action during his days at the cricket academy. The respect Kohli showed towards Anderson was evident as he said, “We were playing a Test match in Southampton during an England tour, and James Anderson was bowling. After the match, I told him that I used to copy his bowling action when I was in the cricket academy.”
Kohli recounted Anderson’s reaction to his revelation: “He was surprised and asked, ‘Seriously?’ and I said, ‘Yes.’”
Here is the video:
Also READ: England great James Anderson reveals how Virat Kohli’s batting skills made him feel inferior
Kohli vs Anderson: A storied rivalry
Despite their on-field rivalry, the deep-rooted mutual respect between Kohli and Anderson has been a defining feature of modern cricket. Kohli faced Anderson 36 times in Tests, scoring 305 runs off him with 39 boundaries, while Anderson dismissed Kohli on seven occasions. The culmination of this rivalry coincides with Anderson’s recent farewell match against the West Indies on Friday, July 12. Anderson, having played an astonishing 188 matches and clinched 704 wickets in his illustrious career, is now the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history.
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