WATCH: “Sharmaji Sharmaji, Kohli ko bowling do,” Kolkata crowd wants Virat Kohli to bowl after Rahul Dravid says he could be used as 6th bowler in World Cup

As India were dominating South Africa in their World Cup fixture, the crowd in the Eden Gardens wanted Virat Kohli to bowl.

WATCH: “Sharmaji Sharmaji, Kohli ko bowling do,” Kolkata crowd wants Virat Kohli to bowl after Rahul Dravid says he could be used as 6th bowler in World Cup

Virat Kohli bowls during pre-match warm-up. (Image via X)

During the build up to India’s match with South Africa, Indian coach Rahul Dravid admitted that the team missed a 6th bowling option in the team. With Hardik Pandya ruled out of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, India needed to play only 5 bowlers in the playing 11. 

But Dravid joked with the press that the team did have another option in Virat Kohli. He called Virat a “wrong-footed, inswinging menace.” Kohli has infamously said he was a “right arm quick” during the 2008 U-19 World Cup. 

YouTube video
The fact is that we will not be in a position to have a proper sixth option. We do have the option to call upon our wrong-footed, in-swinging menace (Virat Kohli). And with the crowd behind him, I'd back him for a couple of overs there in a few wickets. The crowd was demanding his bowling in the last game. We came very close to giving him an over.
Rahul Dravid during the press conference 

After the fans in the Wankhede Stadium started demanding an over from Kohli, the fans in Eden Gardens followed suit. During India’s brilliant bowling performance against South Africa, the fans started singing, “Sharmaji Sharmaji, Kohli ko bowling do.” He has not been given an over yet, but if Dravid claimed Kohli was close to bowling, he could bowl today. 

Virat Kohli, the right arm quick bowler 

Virat Kohli started his career as a batter, but occasionally did bowl. In the 2008 U-19 World Cup, Kohli picked up 5 wickets in the tournament. Kohli captained the side and India ended up winning the tournament as well. 

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli runs past Alastair Cook (Image via ESPN)

Kohli has bowled over 161.5 overs in his 15 years as an international cricketer, picking up only 8 wickets. He averages a whopping 119.38, with a strike rate of 121.38. Kohli managed to pick up his first wicket before he bowled a legal ball, as Kevin Pietersen got stumped off a wide. His best bowling performance came against England in a T20I in 2011. In 2.4 overs, he picked up 1 wicket while conceding only 13 runs. 

In the IPL, he has bowled 41.5 overs from 2008 to 2016. He has picked up 4 wickets, but has conceded 368 runs with an economy of 8.80. His best bowling performance came in the inaugural IPL, where he took 2/25 against the Deccan Chargers. He was once hit for 28 runs by South African all-rounder, Albie Morkel.

In case you missed!