There have been very few bowlers who have troubled the run-machine skipper Virat Kohli on a consistent basis. He has fallen to James Anderson five times in Tests, four of those in English conditions on a forgettable 2014 tour for the world’s No.2 ranked Test batsman. Last year, Nathan Coulter-Nile caused Virat Kohli plenty of trouble with his wicket three times in the ODI series in September-October 2017.

The Indian captain has even said Mohammad Amir worries him most when he’s at the crease. And now, Rumman Raees, the 26-year-old left-arm pacer from Pakistan, hopes to outfox Kohli whenever an opportunity arises.

“I still haven’t bowled to Aussies skipper Steve Smith, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Mr. 360 aka AB de Villiers. But I have bowled to kiwis most experience skipper Kane Williamson. It’s very difficult to get him out. He has a very compact technique. But I managed to get him out four times. And then you have Hashim Amla, one of the greatest of all-time. It was a good learning curve bowling to him.

“I’m not here to issue a challenge but I hope to get the better of Kohli, Smith and AB de Villiers whenever I get a chance to bowl to them. It would be a great feeling,” Raees, who has played nine ODIs and eight T20 internationals, said in an interview. It’s understandable that big money is involved in such leagues and Rashid and Hales’ decision could well become a trend in years to come.