‘Don't think Kohli quit captaincy because he wanted to’, Shoaib Akhtar sees a rift in Indian team

Virat Kohli stepped down as Test captain after losing the series against South Africa.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar reckons that there is a rift in the Indian team at present, which led to Virat Kohli quitting Test captaincy.

When he stepped down as T20I captain and was removed from ODI captaincy, cricket fans and pundits believed Team India will now choose the path of split captaincy, but Kohli didn't leave that option by relinquishing the leadership role completely.

"I see a rift in this team. Important to see how the team will be handled. I don't think Kohli quit because he wanted to, such a situation was created that he had to leave captaincy. There are a lot of reasons behind Kohli's decision to leave Test captaincy, that I cannot say because of confidentiality," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.

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During the recently-concluded South Africa tour, India lost the Test series 2-1 and suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the ODIs.

Terming India’s performance 'humiliating', Akhtar said all the parties, including the BCCI, the team management, and the captain, should come together for the common good of the team.

"The recent performances have left India humiliating. I don't think the Indian team should be losing to such a South Africa team, that too in a demoralizing manner.

"Moving ahead from this point, the BCCI, management, captain and the rest of the players will have to regroup. The issues of unrest will have to be put to an end by the management. I didn't see a combined effort by the team in South Africa," he said.

With no burden of captaincy on his shoulder, Virat Kohli is expected to return to his dominating best with the bat and Shoaib also hoping the same.

"I wish for Kohli to play his normal cricket now. No hundred in the last 2 years, score one now, keep breaking records. There is no need for him to prove anything but tough times are coming ahead,” Akhtar said.

"India will have to strengthen their middle-order because they crumble after the top order is gone. A lot of question marks for Indian cricket at the moment," he further remarked.

India’s next assignment is the white-ball series against West Indies at home. The Men in Blue are due to play three ODIs and as many T20Is from February 6 to February 20 in Ahmedabad and Kolkata.