Kohli Anushka

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Former cricketers often take their moments to analyze today's cricketers and their game. They are found comparing today's cricketers with themselves on most instances while they share insights on what they should do and what should not. Shoaib Akhtar is one of those former cricketers who are quite active when it comes to commenting about the game. But his recent comment about Virat Kohli seemed way too ahead of the line as he commented on his personal life.

Akhtar, in a recent interview, talked about Virat Kohli's recent form and went on to say that he should have not married to focus on cricket. Akhtar also said that he wanted Kohli to not take captaincy but has backed him to still score 120 centuries.

"I do not know what is right, what is wrong. It has all happened, now how to go ahead from here matters. Kohli has the bat, he does not want to be dropped from the team. Performance pressure will be there on him, I wanted him to score 120 tons and not become the captain and I did not want him to get married," ANI quoted Akhtar saying.

"If I was in India and was a fast-bowler, I would not have married. I would have focused on my cricket, this is my thinking. It was Kohli's personal decision. If you asked me, I would have focused on my cricket," he added.

Virat was forced to leave captaincy: Shoaib Akhtar

The Rawalpindi Express also talked about recent events that have unfolded within Indian cricket. As Virat Kohli stepped from Test captaincy as well after being sacked from ODI captaincy, Akhtar reckoned that it was not Kohli's decision to leave captaincy but he was forced to do so. "Virat didn't leave captaincy but was forced to do so. This is not the best of times for him but he needs to prove what he is made of. Is he made of steel or iron? He is a great guy and a cricketer," the 46-year-old said.

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He also advised Kohli to not try too many things and just play the game. The former Pakistani speedster reckoned that Virat doesn't need to prove anything as he has achieved more than anyone in the world. "Do not try too many things, just go out there and play cricket. He is a great batsman and has achieved more than anyone else in the world. He just needs to go out there and play with his natural flow," added Akhtar.

Earlier in an interview with Dainik Jagran, Akhtar had also spoken about the pressure of marriage on a cricketer's professional life.

"There is pressure from the children, of the family. As the responsibility increases, so does the pressure. Cricketers have a short career span of 14-15 years in which you stay at the peak for five-six years. Those years of Virat have passed, now he has to struggle," Akhtar had said.