Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is gearing up to showcase his skills at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on November 5, a day which is also coinciding with his 35th birthday. Preceding this, Pakistan's cricket team is set to compete against Bangladesh at the same venue on October 31. Ahead of the match, Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan extended advanced birthday wishes to Kohli, displaying a cheerful demeanour during the practice session at Eden Gardens.
During an informal interaction with India Today - Aaj Tak on the sidelines of Pakistan's upcoming clash against Afghanistan, Rizwan engaged in a lighthearted conversation. When prompted about the forthcoming India-South Africa match at Eden Gardens and Kohli's birthday on the same day, Rizwan conveyed his best wishes to the renowned Indian cricketer.
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Expressing his sentiments, Rizwan stated, "It is nice to know that his birthday is on 5th of November. Wish him all the best and a happy birthday, though I don't celebrate mine and I don't believe in that. Wishing a great one to Virat. I hope he can get his 49th ODI hundred on his birthday. And I wish him that He could also get his 50th ODI century in this World Cup."
When approached for a comment on Virat's upcoming birthday, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam refrained from providing any specific response.
In the ongoing World Cup, Babar has encountered a challenging phase, both in terms of his team's performance and his individual contributions. Despite the competitive spirit between the two teams, Babar has maintained a friendly rapport with Kohli.
While India boasts a commendable track record with six victories in the tournament, Pakistan is struggling to secure a spot in the semi-finals, having faced defeats in their last four matches and winning just two games so far. Their next challenge is against Bangladesh, a side who have nothing to lose having almost confirmed their elimination from the competition.
Pakistan cricket have also been hit with a controversy over leaked WhatsApp conversations which belonged to skipper Babar Azam. The chats were shown on a local news channel in Pakistan, and allegedly PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf had given the green light for the same.
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