Netherlands off-spinner Aryan Dutt has expressed his dream of dismissing Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, considering it the ultimate gift in the 2023 World Cup. As India and the Netherlands gear up to face each other on November 12 in Bengaluru, Dutt, despite the challenging task of bowling in the powerplay, has showcased an impressive performance with eight wickets in six games at an economy rate below five runs per over.
In a recent interview on October 31, Dutt shared his admiration for Kohli and drew a parallel to the role played by Deepak Patel for New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup.
“I value every wicket, but getting Kohli out would be the best gift in this World Cup,” he said.
“I don’t compare myself to Deepak Patel, but I’m enjoying bowling on Indian pitches. They have a unique feel, which benefits spinners relying on variations,” he added.
“I trust my abilities and don’t stress about the batters I’m up against. My aim is to consistently hit the right lengths and use my speed and turn to outsmart the batsmen,” he further added.
Beyond his economical bowling, Aryan Dutt has also contributed valuable runs in the lower order, aiding Netherlands in victories against South Africa and Bangladesh. Despite emerging from the qualifiers, the Dutch side has impressed with their fighting spirit, holding an outside chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Currently, eighth, with two wins in six games, the Netherlands must secure victories in their remaining three matches and hope for favourable results to advance in the tournament.