Pakistan Cricketing legend Shoaib Akhtar backed struggling Virat Kohli ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. Kohli who was awarded Player of the Tournament in his last ODI World Cup outing was recently seen struggling to score runs in his last outing during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The modern-day great started five Test match series with an unbeaten ton in the first Test match at Optus Stadium in Perth but he failed to carry the momentum further as he ended the series scoring just 190 runs in five Tests.
In the exclusive conversation with Sports Tak, Akhtar said that if India wants Kohli to score runs, tell him that there is a match against Pakistan. He also recalled Kohli's unbeaten match-winning knock against Pakistan during the T20 World Cup 2022 at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, where he scored 82 not out to win a nearly impossible clash against arch-rivals.
"If you have to wake Virat Kohli up, tell him there is a match against Pakistan and he will wake up. The knock he played in Melbourne. He will wake up. Many players who don't have problems, come. Hopefully, the Babar Azam of Pakistan will come and he will show his skills" said Shoaib Akhtar.
Team India are currently preparing for the Champions Trophy 2025 which is scheduled to start from February 19 before that the Men in Blue will play a three-match ODI series against England which will be the last assignment for the Rohit Sharma-led side before the mega event.
Team India will play their opener clash against Bangladesh on February 20. High-voltage India vs. Pakistan will take place on February 23 in Dubai. Dubai is scheduled to host India's all-group stage matches and one of the semifinals. The venue for the final depends on India's performance in the marquee event. If India manages to seal their berth for the final, it will take place in Dubai; otherwise, Lahore will host the title decider.