Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on Virat Kohli and reckoned that the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain could have batted with a broken leg in the IPL and still would have scored . The Indian Test captain endured a split webbing earlier in the tournament in a game against Kolkata, but continued to play leading his team to a 9-wicket win the game. He followed it up with a century in the 15-over rain-curtailed game against the Kings XI Punjab.
Speaking to Mid-Day the speedster was asked whether he would term it bravery or foolishness that Virat took such a huge risk, to which he replied, “It was not a big risk. He would play even with a broken leg and would still score runs."
The legendary fast-bowler has always been kind with his praises for the stylish right-hander batsmen and has also previously requested him to guide his Pakistani counterparts. Akhtar is currently associated with Star Sports studios where he indulged in a six-a-side cricket contest, Team Shoaib Akhtar vs Team Brett Lee.
While talking with his colleagues there, he said, "Kohli is so energised to prove things, not to anybody, but to himself. He always challenges himself, always asks the right questions to himself. I think he has a good five to seven years ahead of him and really wish someone like him will cross 100 international hundreds."
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The 27-year-old already has 36 International centuries at such a young age and he might go on to prove Akhtar’s comments about him right. ‘King Kohli’ as he is fondly called by his fans made 973 runs to win the Orange Cap with an astonishing average of 81.40 and a strike rate of 152.03. The former Pakistani pacer congratulated Kohli for his achievement and wished him luck for future when he failed to win the IPL final last night. Akhtar tweeted:
The Rawalpindi Express has also addressed the Delhite in the past, claiming him to be the best finisher he has ever seen when the Indian stalwart steered his side to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in the recently concluded ICC World T20 2016 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Kohli had scored an unbeaten 37 ball 55 under immense pressure, with India struggling at 23/3 after 5 overs.
Akhtar, who played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL’s inaugural season sounded optimistic about seeing Pakistani players in the future IPLs. "It would have been so nice if our people could come out here and enjoy the IPL. It didn't happen for a reason, but I am sure things will settle down and in coming years Pakistanis will play in IPL," he signed off.
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