ICC World Cup 2019 | Virat Kohli picks Faf du Plessis as hypothetical pick; SA skipper takes Jasprit Bumrah
BCCI
Virat Kohli picked Faf du Plessis, who in turn picked multiple bowlers as all the World Cup captains were presented with a hypothetical situation allowing them to pick anyone from the competing teams. Other choices included the likes of Rashid Khan, Jos Butler, Ben Stokes and Kagiso Rabada.
In a promotional event, the World Cup captains were asked who they would rather have in their teams if they could pick a rival player to play for them in the World Cup. Kohli quite expectedly said that he would have loved to have his RCB teammate AB de Villiers in his team but considering the batsman has retired, he was forced to change his choice.
“It is very difficult to choose someone. We feel we are such a strong side. But if I have to choose one from the current lot...since AB (de Villiers) is retired now, I would choose Faf (du Plessis),” he stated.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza did not hesitate before revealing his choice.
“I would choose that guy,” he said, pointing at Kohli during the official captains’ press meet.
The Proteas skipper, however, went for bowlers instead of batsmen, saying it was them who would ensure a team’s success in the tournament.
“I will pick a few players, mainly bowlers. For bowling attack...Jasprit Bumrah, he is bowling really well at the moment. As Virat said, he is multi-format bowler. Then there is exciting spinner Rashid Khan, Pat Cummins from Australia. Team that will go till the end of the tournament will be the ones that do well with the ball. Bowlers who have capabilities of taking wickets,” said du Plessis,”he explained.
Considering Kohli’s growing reputation,the obvious question which was asked of him was, why not him?
“Virat is my batting team,” replied Faf.
The Black Caps’ captain Kane Williamson seemed to agree with fellow cricketer’s perspective, and hence choosing Afghanistan all rounder and world’s number three ranked bowler, Rashid KhanÂ
“Bowlers will play a big part and I would love to have Rashid Khan in my team,” he quote.
Eoin Morgan, however, chose to place confidence in his team’s abilities and in a humorous reply said he would rather have Ponting with him.
“I won’t change anything about my team. Ponting is part of Australia’s coaching side, so I would take Ricky Ponting,” he remarked.
Australian skipper Aaron Finch too picked a bowler, going for the fierce pacer Rabada.
“Rabada is one guy who has amazing energy. He is a superstar,” said Finch.
“He (Stokes) is a game changer. We know what he can do,” was what the Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said as he made his choice.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, the captain of Pakistan, picked England vice-captain and world class all-rounder Jos Butler to complete the list.
