Former Pakistan keeper-batter and television pundit Kamran Akmal believes Virat Kohli not playing a single Test against Pakistan is a great miss for the Indian maestro, who quit the longer format of the game last week.
Pakistan and India have not played a Test since 2007 as the bilateral ties were stalled in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which New Delhi blamed on militants based across the border. A host of current Indian players like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin have not played a Test against Pakistan.
Kohli has performed admirably against Pakistan in white-ball cricket, but his tally of 123 Tests has no against Pakistan.
When Kohli reflects on his phenomenal career, he will feel that not playing against Pakistan is a great miss. Kohli challenged himself against the best, so playing a Test against Pakistan would have been challenging for him.
“It would have been enjoyable for the fans, Kohli, and all Pakistan bowlers. Great players like Sachin (Tendulkar), Zaheer (Khan), (Rahul) Dravid, (Sourav) Ganguly, (VVS) Laxman, (Anil) Kumle et. al played against Pakistan and no one can forget the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 series.”
Kohli has left at his peak, and we all know that he will be missed…to leave at his peak, with his country’s cricket premium on his mind, is fabulous.
“A player like Kohli comes in centuries. He played Test cricket with passion and has set an example for youngsters that if someone wants to be a great player or a superstar, then they will have to play with that same passion.
“From his first Test in 2011 to the last in 2025, he played with great passion. To play 123 Tests is not easy. His hunger, his fitness, and his approach to play Test were exemplary. He has always been hungry to perform."
To score 30 Test hundreds, 9000 plus runs is not easy… he took Test cricket to great heights and above everything gave enormous respect to the longer and the purest form of the game. He took the Test to beauty and new heights and led his team to great achievements. Such players are rare, very rare.
Kamran said India will surely have replacements, but a new player has to show great commitment to be like Kohli. “Here are replacements, and that is why he has left it for youngsters. I am sure the one who will take his place will be under great pressure to be like him; it will be very challenging,” he said.
