IND v SA 2019: WATCH – Shoaib Akhtar hails Virat Kohli as "best captain" in the world

In 50 Tests as captain, Kohli has led India to victory in 30 games.

Virat Kohli | Getty

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Monday (October 14) hailed Virat Kohli’s leadership skills, saying he is a “fearless captain who is not worried about his personal runs.”

Kohli played his career-best knock of 254 not out to script India’s innings and 137-run victory over South Africa in the second Test in Pune. By virtue of this win, Team India also registered a record 11th series win at home.

In 50 Tests as captain, Virat has led the team to victory in 30 games and has a spectacular win percentage of above 60, the highest among other present Test skippers.

"I had said earlier that Virat Kohli is going to become a good captain after the World Cup 2019 because he is learning from his mistakes. He has figured out how to sort out the batting order. He is the best captain in the world at the moment, miles above the rest in current era. The thing I like about Virat Kohli is that he is a fearless captain. He ran all over South Africa," Akhtar said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

"Credit to India, congratulations to them for record 11 consecutive Test series wins at home. They have a fearless captain who is not worried about his personal runs. His attitude on the pitch was fantastic after scoring 254. He put his country ahead of him by declaring. That's what really matters. That's what I like about Virat Kohli," he added.

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While he was full of praise for Kohli, Akhtar rated Faf du Plessis as an average captain after his side coped a series-conceding defeat in Pune.

"Faf du Plessis, I feel is an average captain. His captaincy was average in the World Cup. He is batting at number 6 in India with Quinton de Kock at number 7. They have no good spinner in the team, how will you win against India? His tactics in the series have also failed in terms of bowling changes," he said.

"Disappointed with the mediocrity of the captaincy and the deterioration of South African cricket which I got to witness through the captaincy. Pakistan are down, South Africa are down, West Indies are down and so is Bangladesh. Then who is going to play Test cricket? We need to save Test matches and bring more improvement in the format," Shoaib further remarked.

Here’s the video:

 

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 15 Oct, 2019

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