Virat Kohli should retire from T20Is after T20 World Cup to focus on other formats: Shoaib Akhtar

After a poor couple of seasons, Virat Kohli finally returned to his absolute best. He finished as the second highest run-getter in the Asia Cup 2022 and looked in fine touch before the T20 World Cup. The former India captain also ended his century drought after smashing 122 against Afghanistan in the Super 4. 

Meanwhile, former Pakistan international Shoaib Akhtar is the latest person to join the conversation around Kohli's T20I future. He believes that Kohli should call time on the shortest format to focus more on Test and ODI cricket. 

“Kohli could take retirement (from T20Is) after the T20 World Cup (in Australia). He might do so as to extend his longevity in the other formats. If I was him, I would have looked at the larger picture and taken a call,” Akhtar told India.com.

Amit Mishra takes a dig at Shahid Afridi for commenting on Kohli’s retirement

Like Shoaib Akhtar, former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi also advised Kohli to retire from T20I cricket. He wants Kohli to walk off as a top player so that the situation doesn’t arrive when the team management will have to drop him.

“The way Virat has played and the start that he had to his career, there was struggle initially before he made a name for himself. He is a champion (player) and I think there’s time when you are approaching retirement and then, the aim should be to go out on a high. It shouldn’t reach a stage that you get dropped from the team. It rarely happens though (players retiring at their peak). Very few players, especially cricketers from Asian teams make such calls. I feel when Virat does it (retirement), he will do it style and maybe in the same way how he began his career," Afridi told Samaa TV.

Amit Mishra, who is known for his witty nature on social media, took a dig at Afridi for his comments on Kohli’s retirement. “Dear Afridi, some people retire only once so please spare Virat Kohli from all this,” said the spin wizard on Twitter.