The mind game has started, South African speedster Kagiso Rabada has called Virat Kohli immature just ahead of their clash on Wednesday in Southampton.
In an interview to Cricinfo, Rabada recalled his clash with Indian captain during one of the IPL matches this year between Delhi Capitals and Royal Bangalore Challengers.
In a war of words Rabada explained the incident, “I was just thinking about the game plan, really, but Virat, he hit me for a boundary and then he had a word. And then when you give it back to him, he gets angry. I don’t get the guy.”
Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is known for his aggressive approach on the field, once said that aggression for him is to win a match at any cost. Rabada thinks Kohli is immature because he can’t take back the abuses.
“Maybe he does it because it gets him going, but that comes across as very immature for me. He is a phenomenal player but he can’t take the abuse. But those things can’t distract you,” Radaba said.
Rabada who praised Kohli in 2018 and called him the toughest batsman he bowled to, always ready to take on if someone sledges him.
“In fact, for me, it just wakes me up, if anything. If somebody comes to me and says, “I’m going to hit you. I’m going to clobber you. You are soft”, it wakes me up because – it’s a fight-or-flight response.”
Rabada is one of the most promising fast bowlers of the present time. South Africa has lost its first game of the World Cup and will be playing Bangladesh on Sunday and India on Wednesday.
