On Saturday, Pakistan's spin bowler Abrar Ahmed expressed his deep admiration for Virat Kohli in a heartfelt social media post, referring to the Indian cricket star as his "childhood hero." This message followed their encounter during the Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan held in Dubai.

In his Instagram post, Abrar conveyed his respect for Kohli's humility, labeling him a 'true inspiration.' He wrote: "Bowling to my childhood hero Virat Kohli. I am thankful for his acknowledgment—his excellence as a cricketer is paralleled only by his modesty as an individual. A genuine inspiration both on and off the field!"

The post also featured a memorable moment from the Champions Trophy match on February 23. Abrar faced criticism after delivering a remarkable ball that led to a send-off for Shubman Gill. Nevertheless, at the conclusion of his bowling spell, Kohli demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship by approaching Abrar to shake hands and commend his performance. Abrar emerged as Pakistan's leading bowler, concluding with an impressive figure of 1 for 28.

Virat Kohli gears up for 300th ODI

The former captain of India played a pivotal role in the team's six-wicket victory over Pakistan last week, where Kohli achieved an unbeaten century. This marked his 51st career century in One Day Internationals, his fourth against Pakistan, and his first in the Champions Trophy. Additionally, he became the fastest player globally to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket.

This performance also served to silence his detractors once more. His declining form across all formats had been a prominent topic leading up to the Champions Trophy. Following a disappointing Test series in Australia, the 36-year-old displayed signs of regaining his form during the three ODIs against England. However, this was insufficient to quell the speculation, which intensified after his lackluster score of 22 runs off 38 balls in India's opening match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh. Nevertheless, his much-anticipated resurgence was evident during the match against Pakistan.

Kohli is now poised to participate in his 300th ODI match in India's upcoming game against New Zealand on Sunday, becoming the seventh Indian cricketer to achieve this significant milestone.

Read Also: India vs. New Zealand: A Match of Contrasts and Intriguing Subplots

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