New Delhi: Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has backed Virat Kohli to bounce back to form in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 stating that he will be fired up at the prospect of facing arch-rivals Pakistan once again in the multi-nation tournament. Akhtar believes Kohli always manages to find his form when playing against Pakistan and has proven it in the past.
India will lock horns with Pakistan in a blockbuster clash in Dubai on February 23. The high-profile clash promises to be a cracking one between the two arch-rivals. Kohli will be heading into the Champions Trophy 2025 on the back of a poor campaign in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia but will be hopeful of regaining his form in the showpiece event.
“If you want Virat Kohli back in form, tell him that there is a match against Pakistan. He will wake up. We have seen it often. He played a top knock in Melbourne. He will get up and running,” Akhtar told Sports Tak.
Kohli headed into the Australia Test series with high expectations considering his record in Tests Down Under. However, he failed to deliver for India, managing only 190 runs in 5 Tests, including a solitary century which came in the series opener in Perth. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, questions have been raised over Kohli’s future for India in Tests.
All eyes will be on Kohli in the Champions Trophy as his performances will be integral to his chances of retaining his spot in the Indian Test team. Kohli will be backing himself to continue his purple patch in the high-pressure clash against Pakistan having scored an impressive 678 runs in 16 ODIs at an excellent average of 52.15 against the arch-rivals.
Kohli is also India’s leading run-getter against Pakistan in T20Is with 492 runs at an average of over 70. He played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 82 against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the T20 World Cup in 2022 which is regarded as one of his best knocks for India in the shortest format.
India vs Pakistan: Akhtar refuses to pick a favourite
Akhtar refused to pick a favourite when asked who he feels might come out on top in the blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan on February 23. The legendary pacer instead hoped for an evenly-fought contest between the two teams.
“I hope for an evenly fought contest between India and Pakistan on the big day in Dubai,” said Akhtar.
“India is also a favourite; Pakistan is also a favourite. It should be a cracking contest. Hopefully, it’s a high-scoring one,” he added.
India have traditionally held an edge over Pakistan in major ICC tournaments having lost only once against the Men in Green in both ODI and T20 World Cups. However, Pakistan have a better head-to-head record against India in the Champions Trophy having won 3 out of five matches between the two teams. Pakistan also beat India in the final of the Champions Trophy in 2017 and are the defending champions of the upcoming edition.
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar believes Virat Kohli always manages to bounce back to form when India are playing against Pakistan. Kohli has a great record against Pakistan in white-ball cricket. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
