IND vs ENG: Shoaib Akhtar Throws Support Behind Struggling Virat Kohli

Since the former India captain has not been among the runs in the current series against England, Virat Kohli‘s dismal run of form has become the talk of the town.

In a previous statement, Kapil Dev said that Virat might be dropped from T20Is if Ravichandran Ashwin, the No. 2 rated bowler, could be dropped from Tests.

Virat Kohli Gets Support From Shoaib Akhtar

In response to these remarks, veteran Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar stated that Kapil Dev is free to express his own views. He did, however, express support for Kohli, adding that the player should only concentrate on his batting. 

“I am hearing a lot of criticism about Virat Kohli. It is being said that he should be dropped. Virat Kohli is finished, this is right. There is nothing more left in his career, this is also right and he would not be able to do anything more in his career, this is right, these type of things other people are saying to me.

“I told them, Virat Kohli is the greatest player, in the last 10 years, if there has been any greatest player, it is Virat. He has 1-2 bad years, he still has scored runs, just the century has not come,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel. 

“You are just humiliating the guy in the media, to discredit him is not right, I do not know how can one talk about dropping him?

“Kapil Dev is my senior; I respect him and he has his own opinion. He is a legend; he can voice his opinion. A great cricketer can talk like that. Virat Kohli has 70 centuries and only a great player can score as many runs,” he added.

Virat Kohli Should Focus On His Batting: Shoaib Akhtar

Further talking about Virat, Akhtar said: “Virat should focus on his batting, if you do not perform, there is nothing wrong. All these things are happening, these are happening so that you become a bigger cricketer. You should not be scared; one should realise that they are up against a tough cricketer.

It is important that you stay at the wicket, the more you stay in the middle, the better it will become for you. You should stay away from social media and not pay attention to the criticism.” 

Since scoring his last international century in 2019, Kohli has failed to reach the three-figure mark. The Edgbaston Test and the subsequent two T20Is against England saw the batter struggle to get going. 

India’s selection for the forthcoming ODI and T20I series against West Indies, which starts on July 22, will not include Kohli. According to PTI, Kohli has been given a break before the series. 

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