Wasim Akram is of the view that the Indian media and the Indian fans have directed unfair criticism towards Virat Kohli for his recent performances and the former Indian captain doesn’t deserve as much criticism as he has had to take in the last few months.
A lot has changed in Virat Kohli’s career in the last one year or so. He voluntarily stepped down as the captain of India’s T20I and test team and the ODI captaincy was taken away from him, but it didn’t just stop there. Virat’s recent form with the bat has been a bit shaky as well which has now put his spot in the Indian team, especially in the T20I team, under the microscope.
According to Wasim Akram, who is a part of the Star Sports commentary panel for Asia Cup 2022 and was speaking in a pre-tournament show earlier today, Virat Kohli’s return to form is inevitable because the quality is there. The quality doesn’t fade away even when a player is out of form. Since Virat has quality, he will score again and it’s just a matter of when and not if.
Wasim Akram said "Virat Kohli will come back stronger – he is one of the greatest of all time, form is temporary and class is permanent for these players, averages 50+ in T20I, he is just 33 and one fittest guys ever".
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 23, 2022
Hopefully Virat doesn’t get back to form against Pakistan: Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, however, jokingly added that he is hoping Virat doesn’t get his form back in the game against Pakistan. Virat Kohli’s record against Pakistan in the Asia Cups has been brilliant. His highest ODI score of 183 came in the Asia Cup of 2012 against Pakistan and when he last played against Pakistan in the Asia Cup of 2016, he scored a match winning 49, helping India chase down a small target of 84 set by Pakistan.
Virat was rested for the previous Asia Cup which took place in 2018, even though he was in charge of the Indian cricket team in all three formats of the game back then. The Indian team had beaten Pakistan twice in the Asia Cup of 2018 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.
Wasim Akram on Virat Kohli:
“The fans, media have been criticizing Virat Kohli quite unfairly on social media. I think he is one of all-time greats. He is only 33 years old, I am sure he’ll come back, he is a great player. Just hope he doesn’t come back to form against Pakistan"
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) August 23, 2022
