'If You Want to Wake Virat Kohli Up, Just Tell Him…’: Shoaib Akhtar’s Yorker on India Star Before Champions Trophy

Champions Trophy: This has caused equal concern of the fans and critics when Rohit Sharma could not wake up from his slump. In Perth, he did score a century against Australia, but his run in Test cricket which started in June has been the worst of his career. This has raised questions about his future, yet there is every indication he will bow out of the international scene if it continues.

Also Read: Mahakumbh 2025: Laurene Powell Jobs, Renamed ‘Kamala’, Honors Spiritual Leader

As experts wonder over either the reason behind his current form or when it will return ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, the former fast Pakistani bowler had a suggestion to shock him awake.

With just 382 runs in the 10 Test matches he played since September, Virat ended up scoring at just 22.47, with a century and a fifty-much short of the lowest-ever calendar year contribution. Although he was not able to play all the T20Is of the year, he was still to be the star of India during WC, for he would provide the greatest presentation in history by having received the skills to score 888 runs in the 2024 IPL to bag the Orange Cap for his team, Bengaluru and managed only 151 runs during 100 balls at 112.68 with one fifty.

The next is the England ODI series and then the Champions Trophy, which should be his last appearance in an ODI for India. It continues as yet another challenge for Kohli's form with Akhtar, who still recalled the Melbourne innings in conversation with India Today, being contentious.

"If you want to wake up Virat Kohli, just tell him you have a match against Pakistan. Look at that innings he played in Melbourne. Hopefully, Babar Azam will do that for Pakistan. Unfortunately, Saim Ayub is injured. I was looking forward to his partnership with Fakhar Zaman. It would have been a destructive opening pair," he said.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh CM Yadav Plans Liquor Ban in Religious Cities

"Wishing Pakistan to win"

At Dubai on February 23, 2024 in the Champions Trophy, India will play with Pakistan. The same ground where the Pakistani side had made way from defeat against India after the previous World Cup, it was right after the 2021 T20 World Cup featuring a thumping 10-wicket win by Pakistan. Akhtar wishes that happening again with the side led by Mohammad Rizwan.

"India and Pakistan are both favourites. I expect a good contest and a high-scoring game. It's time for both teams to wake up, but I hope Pakistan win. They are the hosts, and they need to win and return home then. But India is a strong side. Bumrah is a one-man army," he added.

As to nickname Bumrah, Akhtar said to Rawalpindi Express the reporter stunned when "legend" is the term used to describe the Indian bowler.

"The best thing I like about Bumrah is that he is an honest fast bowler. He got his back injured but did not let India down," he added.

Also Read: Bengaluru Woman Highlights Price Difference on Zepto for Android vs iPhone Users