What if Virat Kohli played for Pakistan? - 'What-If' Cricket Scenario

Virat Kohli's Impact on Indian Cricket

Virat Kohli started having a major impact on Indian cricket even before he made his debut for the senior national team. He captained the Indian team to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2008. Later in that year, he made his debut for the Indian team and since then, he has broken one batting record after another. His never-say-die attitude and the hunger to win, even at his current age of 36, is an inspiration for budding cricketers around the world.

Making India a strong force in SENA Tests

Under Kohli's leadership, India became a force to reckon with in Tests in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. His aggressive mindset translated into his captaincy as he backed his pacers to do the bulk of the damage in helpful conditions outside the sub-continent. The likes of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah thrived under his captaincy. Kohli is the most successful Indian captain in the longest format. He has more wins than any other Indian Test skipper. The Delhi batter also has the highest win percentage among Indian captains who have led the team in at least 20 matches.

Pakistan's Cricketing Landscape in Recent Years

Pakistan had a different aura around them during the 1990s and the early 2000s. However, in recent years, they have not been able to assert their dominance in world cricket. Pakistan's last ICC title win came in 2017 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, arch-rivals India have won back-to-back ICC events in 2024 (T20 World Cup) and 2025 (Champions Trophy), The Men in Green failed to progress beyond the first round in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and also the 2025 Champions Trophy.

What if Virat Kohli played for the Pakistan cricket team?

1. Cultural and National Identity

Pakistani people are really passionate about their game and worship their players, much like in India. A player of Kohli's stature would give the people of Pakistan several opportunities to rejoice. Pakistani fans do not forget their heroes and Kohli would likely have achieved as much adulation from them as he does from the ones on the other side of the border.

2. Playing Style and Contributions

Playing on Pakistani pitches would have suited Kohli's game as well. He likes to take the attack to the bowlers and this mindset would have helped him score a lot of runs on some of the flat tracks in the country. Kohli has also been very solid in terms of his technique from the outset. Kohli and Babar Azam playing together in the top-order would have made Pakistan one of the strongest batting lineups in world cricket.

Batting has been a let down for the Asian giants in recent years, with not too many players apart from Babar and Mohammad Rizwan showing consistency. The addition of Kohli would have reduced the pressure on the two stalwarts.

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3. Impact on Pakistan cricket

Kohli could have been a great leader for Pakistan. His fearless approach would have rubbed off on his teammates. This could have helped the team achieve much more success at ICC events. With positive results, there would have been more stability in Pakistan cricket, something that has been lacking in the last few years.

4. Historical Context

India and Pakistan have had an intense rivalry in the field of cricket. However, since 2010, the Men in Blue have had the upper hand, picking up more wins against their age-old rivals. Had Kohli been a part of the Pakistan lineup, things could have been slightly different. India would have had to make plans to dismiss Kohli as he has the ability to take the game away from oppositions single-handedly.

5. Kohli's legacy

Kohli would be remembered as one of the finest players to have played the game from Pakistan. With the amount of cricket that is played nowadays, coupled with Kohli's consistency, he could very well have finished as Pakistan's leading run-getter. He would have inspired his teammates as well as budding cricketers to take Pakistan cricket to unchartered heights.