Former Pakistan captain and legend Wasim Akram has now weighed in on the ongoing row between Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli.
Kohli has been subject to a lot of criticism regarding his low strike rates, both recently and in the past, with critics claiming that he is just not a good fit for the shortest format anymore.
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The 35-year-old, to his credit, is enjoying a phenomenal IPL 2024 and is currently the leading run-getter with 542 runs under his belt, coming at a pretty healthy strike rate of 148.
His performances, though, haven't been enough to silence the naysayers, with Kohli preferring to hit back at the criticism on more than one occasion this season.
“Not really, all the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones talking about this stuff," said Kohli after hitting an unbeaten 70 off 44 balls against Gujarat Titans last week.
"For me, it's about winning the games for the team and there's a reason why you've done it for 15 years, you've done this day in and day out, you've won games for your teams, I'm not quite sure that if you haven't been in that situation yourself, to sit and talk about the game from the box.
"For me, people can talk about their assumptions day in and day out, but those who have done day in and day out, they know what's happening and it's a kind of muscle memory for me now.”
Lats week, IPL 2024 commentator and Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar indirectly called out Kohli for responding to the criticism, doing so live on air on Saturday, May 4.
MORE: Ajit Agarkar shuts down criticism over Kohli's selection in T20 World Cup squad
What did Sunil Gavaskar say about Virat Kohli?
Speaking on Star Sports as part of the pre-match commentary panel ahead of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans clash in Bengaluru on Saturday, Gavaskar lashed out at Kohli for reacting to the "outside noise".
Commentators questioned only when his strike rate was 118. I’m not too sure. I don’t watch too many matches, so I don’t know what the other commentators have said otherwise. But if you come and open and then have a strike of 118 when you get out in the 14th or the 15th over, I mean, if you want applause for that, that’s a little bit different. That’s different.
All these guys talk about, ‘oh we don’t care about outside noise’. Accha! Then why are you replying to any outside noise or whatever it is. We all played a bit of cricket, not a lot of cricket. We don’t have agendas. We speak about what we see. We don’t necessarily have any likes and dislikes. Even if we have likes and dislikes, we actually speak on what is happening.
MORE: Gavaskar vs Kohli: Strike rate criticism sparks war of words
What has Wasim Akram said on Sunil Gavaskar vs Virat Kohli row?
Now legendary former Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram has shared his views on the ongoing tussle between the two Indian cricket greats.
Akram refused to make a big deal of the issue as he felt that both the stars should move on now while speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda.
He said,
Both are greats. Sunny bhai (Sunil Gavaskar), as a cricketer, as a human being, I know him off the field. As a commentator, he has been doing it for God knows how many years, probably for more than two and a half decades. And coming to the great man, Virat Kohli, he is a top player, a modern great. In fact, he is an all-time great in history, given the kind of performances he has had. But, I think Virat shouldn’t have said it.
It is the commentator’s job. If he got slow in a couple of matches and he [Gavaskar] said something, forget about it. Virat is not that kind of a person. Both are proud Indians; both are greats. It’s OK; they both will move on pretty quickly. Don’t think either will take it personally. They will be fine, I know. I am telling you now. I know them both very well.
What next for Virat Kohli?
The 35-year-old will be next seen in action on Thursday as RCB take on PBKS in IPL 2024.
