Afghanistan's Gurbaz earns Virat Kohli's respect, gifted batsman after show in Ahmedabad

Virat Kohli awarded Rahmanullah Gurbaz two wickets after his stunning performance against South Africa in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Although Afghanistan were not far behind, Gurbaz’s knock was one for the ages – a performance that will live long in his country’s cricketing memory.

The Afghan star expressed his gratitude on Instagram. “Thank you for the most amazing gift @virat.kohli bhai. You are not just a legend, you are an inspiration to all generations,” he wrote. This heartfelt message captured the respect and admiration Gurbaz has for one of cricket’s greatest players.

KOHLI’S GREAT TRADITIONS

This is not the first time that Kohli has shared his prized bats with other cricketers. The Indian legend has made it something of a tradition, gifting bats to players around the world – from RCB captain Rajat Patidar on Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Indian own Rinku Singh. It is a simple act that speaks volumes about his character and the respect he commands in the cricketing fraternity.

These gestures have become part of Kohli’s legacy and show that greatness is not just about runs and records. For young players like Gurbaz, receiving the bat from Kohli is more than just a fixture – it’s an affirmation, an inspiration and a tangible connection to excellence.

Kohli returned to India on Thursday after a month-long stay in London. Having recently retired from Tests and T20Is, his last appearance in T20Is was a memorable one – a match-winning 76 off 59 balls in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, which earned him the Player of the Match award. It was a perfect farewell to the format and ended his T20I career on the highest possible note.

AFGHANISTAN HILL CLIMB

Gurbaz almost pulled off a miracle in Ahmedabad. His explosive 84 off just 42 balls brought Afghanistan to the brink of a famous victory on 11 February. The match reached a double Super Over and Gurbaz wasn’t done yet – he blasted three more sixes to almost drag his team over the line with one hand. His fearless attitude and clean punches brought the crowd to their feet.

But it wasn’t nearly enough. Now Afghanistan are in a tight spot with two losses from two matches. They need to beat the UAE and Canada convincingly and hope to trip up New Zealand or South Africa. It’s challenging, but if this tournament has taught us anything – with Zimbabwe stunning Australia and other shocks – it’s that the associated nations are here to compete, not just participate. Afghanistan still have a fighting chance if they can harness the momentum of Gurbaz’s heroics.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

February 14, 2026

Index