Shoaib Akhtar, the iconic Pakistani cricketer, has offered valuable advice to Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, suggesting that he should step away from One Day International (ODI) cricket following the culmination of the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. This counsel comes ahead of Kohli’s fourth appearance in the prestigious tournament.
Virat Kohli’s journey in the ODI World Cup commenced in 2011, marking a pivotal role in India’s historic home-ground victory. His subsequent contributions led India to the semifinals in the 2015 World Cup and the 2019 World Cup, where he captained the team. As he gears up for his fourth ODI World Cup, Kohli aspires to secure his second triumph in this illustrious championship.
Shoaib Akhtar’s perspectives were shared during a recent conversation with RevSportz, where he was questioned about Pakistan’s prospects of breaking their winless streak against India in the ODI World Cup.
Akhtar’s response underlined Pakistan’s favorable chances this year. However, he acknowledged Virat Kohli’s potential to influence the outcome and recalled Kohli’s remarkable performance in the T20 World Cup encounter between the arch-rivals.
Reflecting on that match, Akhtar emphasized that the spotlight was on Virat Kohli, attributing the divine to his exceptional performance. Akhtar then suggested that Kohli should consider stepping away from ODIs after the World Cup and shift his focus to Test cricket. He envisioned Kohli breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries.
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“The match was entirely centered around Virat Kohli. It seemed like the cricketing Gods wanted it for him. He was not in the best form and was facing significant scrutiny from the Indian media. The circumstances were almost providential, urging him to reclaim his prowess on the grandest stage at the MCG.”
Akhtar further outlined his view that Kohli should not extend his ODI participation beyond the forthcoming World Cup. He emphasized the toll T20 matches can take on Kohli, suggesting a shift in focus to Test cricket to achieve the monumental feat of surpassing Tendulkar’s record.
Addressing Kohli’s decision to step down from captaincy, Akhtar observed that this move has liberated him. Drawing parallels to Sachin Tendulkar’s illustrious career, Akhtar urged Kohli to channel his energy into scoring runs for India and continuing to be a match-winner.
“Letting go of captaincy has proven to be beneficial. Kohli’s journey began to emulate Sachin Tendulkar. Now, he must continue in that vein by amassing runs for his team, elevating India’s victories. The relinquishment of captaincy has lightened the load, enabling him to excel as a batsman without the added pressure.”
Shoaib Akhtar’s insights provide a unique perspective on Virat Kohli’s future in ODI cricket and beyond. As the cricketing world eagerly anticipates Kohli’s performances in the upcoming ICC World Cup and beyond, Akhtar’s advice serves as a thought-provoking perspective on the Indian cricketing legend’s trajectory.