As the 15th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2022) began earlier this month in Mumbai, all eyes were on Virat Kohli, who was playing just as a batter for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the first time in 11 seasons.
He had previously announced that he would step down as captain at the end of the 2021 season. With no captaincy responsibilities, veterans and analysts encouraged Kohli to repeat his IPL 2016 performance.
Kohli, on the other hand, has only displayed a sliver of his previous form in five innings, making 107 runs at 26.8. And, ahead of RCB's match against Delhi Capitals, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has given a powerful remark, stating that if Kohli's bad form continues, even he should not be spared and should be dropped from the team.
Speaking to Sportskeeda before the big game at the Wankhede Stadium, Akhtar admitted that with performance being such an important component in the IPL, no one should be spared, not even Kohli.
Akhtar believes that things have already gotten risky for the former captain, with people pointing fingers at his dismal form.
Kohli was also given advice by the former Pakistan pacer, to focus on one thing at a time and contemplate playing as a "regular" cricketer without the pressure.
“It's a performance-based IPL franchise model. No one will be spared, not even Virat Kohli. Even he can be dropped if he does not perform. Some of the things I can't even say now. Not one but there are 10,000 things going on in his head. He is a good person, a good player and a great cricketer, but I want him to just focus, on one thing at a time. Consider yourself as a ordinary player, pick up your bat and just play. People have already started pointing fingers at Virat Kohli and it's dangerous,” he said.
Kohli's performance will be crucial for RCB in the IPL 2022, who are looking to improve their position in the points table after winning three games and losing twice in their first five games.
(Sportskeeda inputs)
