Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli’s ODI career and future in international cricket. In a recent interaction with RevSportz, Akhtar advised Kohli to consider giving up ODI cricket after the conclusion of the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 and focus on Test cricket and breaking records. Akhtar believes that after the ICC Kohli’s up 2023, Kohli should concentrate on Test cricket.
He emphasizes that Kohli’s skills and endurance are better suited for the longest game format. Akhtar suggests that Kohli should seKohli’sights to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries. He believes Kohli has the potential and longevity to achieve this miTendulkar’she focuses on Test cricket.
Shoaib Akhtar stated, “That match was all about Virat Kohli. The cricket Gods wanted to do it for him. He wasn’t in the best form and facing a lot of heat from you guys in India. The media was after him. God wasn’t telling him this is your stage, come and become king again. If you see all that transpired, rain and a lot of God, 1.3 billion Indians watching, and 30 crore Pakistanis watching, the whole world is in awe. It was the greatest stage of all. When you add the two sixes he hit off Haris Rauf, that match gave him back his kingdom. I think it was all destined for him on that day at the MCG.
Akhtar acknowledges that relinquishing the captaincy has freed Kohli from the added responsibilities and pressure. He sees this change as positive for Kohli’s batting performance. Akhtar draws parallels between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, highlighting that Kohli’s inspiration was to emulate Tendulkar’s career. He encourages Kohli to continue scoring runs for India, much like Tendulkar did throughout his career.
“While on Kohli, I don’t think he should also play more 50-overs matches after this World Cup if you see him in T20s. It takes a lot out on Tim. I think he should play for at least six more years and break the 100 hundreds record of Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup and break this record,” said Shoaib Akhtar.
Akhtar commends Kohli’s resilience and acknowledges the significance of his performances during crucial moments, such as the T20 World Kohli against Pakistan. He believes that Kohli’s ability to rise to challenges makes him a key player for India.
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“Also, there was a lot of chat about him losing Kohli’s. I don’t read much into it. I think it has freed him up. Why did he start playing? He started his cricket to be like Sachin Tendulkar. He has become like Sachin. Scored loads of runs. Now, he should just continue to score runs for his team and win more games in India. Losing captaincy is good for him as a batter because the pressure of captaincy cripples you,” said Shoaib Akhtar.
In conclusion, Akhtar’s advice to Kohli stems from a deep respect for his abilities and a belief that his talents are best utilized in the Test format. Akhtar envisions Kohli leaving a lasting legacy in the cricketing world by focusing on Test cricket and setting sights on breaking records.
