Virat Kohli has got a lot of heart: Shoaib Akhtar

Virat Kohli’s style of captaincy and his game has often earned praises from those who played the sport aggressively and took challenges head on. Kohli’s track record across formats has attested the belief that the style of play, which is often in contrast with how the Indian teams have played before, best suited for the modern-day cricket.

Kohli might not have played against Shoaib Akhtar but the former Pakistani pacer is all praise for the Indian captain.

Akhtar, who is renowned for being the only pacer who breached the 100 mph barrier in cricket, feels that he and Kohli would have been best friends had they met on a cricket pitch.

Akhtar appeared on a video podcast with Sanjay Manjrekar on ESPNCricinfo and shared his views on the 31-year-old Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper. 

“Virat Kohli and I would have been the best of friends. We both are Punjabi, we both have quite a similar nature. He seems like he has a lot of heart, and even though, he’s a lot junior to me, I really respect him, Akhtar said.

However, Akhtar added that the friendship would not be on the cricket field but only off it. 

“We would have been the best of friends. But on the field, we would have been the best of enemies,” he said.

Akhtar, who had an illustrious career for Pakistan with 178 Test wickets in 46 matches, is still considered one of the most lethal pacers ever.