Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar recalled Indian batter Virat Kohli’s T20I WC 2022 knock against Pakistan. Talking about Kohli’s brilliant knock from the World Cup, Akhtar said that it was God's way of telling him to be in the best of his form again. Notably, the former India captain wasn’t in the best of form for a very long time. But playing against the arch-rivals, Kohli helped India secure a near-impossible win. The ex-India skipper scored 82* in 53 balls to take India over the finish line.
Talking about the match and especially the 34-year-old’s knock, Akhtar said that Gods wanted it for the India batter. In an interview with RevSportz, the former player said, “That match was all about Virat Kohli. The cricket Gods wanted to do it for him. He wasn’t in the best of form and was facing a lot of heat from you guys in India. The media was after him. It was God’s way of telling him – this is your stage, come and become king again.
He added, “If you see all that transpired – rain and a lot of it, 100,000 people, 1.3 billion Indians watching, 30 crore Pakistanis watching, the whole world in awe – the stage was set for Kohli.” Regarded as one of the deadliest bowlers of all times, Akhtar went on to say, “It was the greatest stage of all. When you add the two sixes he hit off Haris Rauf, that match gave him back his kingdom. I think it was all destined for him on that day at the MCG.”
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Akhtar, who is fondly called ‘Rawalpindi Express’ by his fans, said that he wants Kohli to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries. He went on to say, “I think he should play for at least six more years and break the 100 hundreds record of Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup and break this record.”