Picture Credit: Twitter
Virat Kohli played an inning of the ages as he took India to an infamous victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening fixture at T20 World Cup 2022. Kohli scored a 53-ball 82* with the help of four sixes and six fours to propel India to victory. Many termed it as his best-ever in the shortest format. The batter also said it was a notch higher than his famous Mohali inning against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
The 33-year-old looked in a completely different zone as he hit two unbelievable shots against the best bowler on that day (Haris Rauf). With his unbelievable inning, Kohli shut his critics in some style. Many who said that he should not play in the shortest format anymore, have their lips tightened. However, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar is advising Kohli to retire from T20Is.
After Kohli’s innings against Pakistan, Akhtar said that the 33-year-old should retire from T20Is as it will consume him. The former cricketer heaped praise on the batter for his inning but said that playing in the shortest format for long might drain him.
"Jab Irade toot-te hai toh yakeen bahar aata hai aur jab yakeen pukhta ho jata hai toh character bahar aata hai and uska naam Virat Kohli hai," (When you're down, self-confidence has to be revived and when confidence gets consolidated, character gets channelised and Virat Kohli is a personification of the same) Akhtar said while reviewing the game on his YouTube channel.
"Mere khyal me zindagi ki sabse badi innings wo khel gaye. Wo isliye khel gaye kyunki unko yakin tha ki wo kar jayega (He played the biggest innings of his life. He could play the knock because he had the self-belief and character)," explained Akhtar. "He is back with a bang. I want him to retire from T20I because I don't want that he puts his entire energy in T20I cricket. With similar commitment like today, he can score three centuries in ODIs," Akhtar said on Kohli.