With the Champions Trophy around the corner, questions about Virat Kohli’s recent performances have sparked widespread discussions. While the Indian star has struggled for consistency across formats since June, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has offered an interesting take on how to “wake Kohli up.”
Kohli’s Decline in Form Raises Questions
Kohli, despite a stunning century against Australia in Perth earlier this year, has endured one of the most challenging phases of his career. In 10 Test matches since September, he has managed just 382 runs at an average of 22.47, including one century and a solitary fifty. These statistics mark his worst calendar year since debuting in international cricket.
In T20Is, his form has been equally underwhelming. Kohli played only in the T20 World Cup, scoring 151 runs at a strike rate of 112.68 with one half-century. This was a sharp contrast to his Orange Cap-winning IPL 2024 campaign, where he was the top scorer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
As India prepares for an ODI series against England followed by the Champions Trophy, concerns over Kohli’s form remain. Experts and fans are debating whether he can return to his best in what could potentially be his final major tournament in the format.
Akhtar’s Unique Advice for Kohli
Speaking to India Today, Shoaib Akhtar proposed a playful solution to help Kohli rediscover his form. Reflecting on Kohli’s iconic innings against Pakistan during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne, Akhtar remarked:
“If you want to wake up Virat Kohli, just tell him there’s a match against Pakistan. Look at how he played in Melbourne. Hopefully, Babar Azam can do something similar for Pakistan. Unfortunately, Saim Ayub is injured, which is disappointing because I was excited to see his partnership with Fakhar Zaman. That could have been a destructive opening pair.”
High Expectations for India-Pakistan Clash
The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in the Champions Trophy is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai. This venue holds significant memories, as it was where Pakistan ended their winless streak against India in World Cups with a dominant 10-wicket victory in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Akhtar expressed optimism for the encounter, expecting a thrilling, high-scoring contest. “India and Pakistan are both favorites. It’s time for both teams to step up. I hope Pakistan wins since they are the hosts and need to return home with the trophy. But India is a strong side. Bumrah is a one-man army,” he said.
Praise for Jasprit Bumrah
When asked about Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Akhtar had high praise, even bestowing him with the title of “legend.”
“The best thing about Bumrah is that he is an honest fast bowler. Despite his back injury, he never let India down,” Akhtar added, lauding Bumrah’s resilience and dedication.
As the countdown to the Champions Trophy continues, the cricketing world will be watching closely to see whether Kohli can rise to the occasion once again, especially in the much-awaited clash against Pakistan.
