Muscat: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar feels India are at a crossroads after Virat Kohli’s captaincy era is over, posing a big challenge for Rahul Dravid to prove that he was not exaggerated as a coach. Weeks after being stripped of the captaincy of the ODI side, Kohli left the captaincy even in the longest format, to a surprise after a 1-2 loss in the Test series against South Africa.
“I don’t know what Sourav Ganguly (BCCI president) and others think,” Akhtar told PTI on the sidelines of the Legends League Cricket T20 tournament here. But of course Indian cricket is at the pinnacle (crossroads).” India, led by acting captain Lokesh Rahul, also lost an ODI series on the South Africa tour, already their first defeat on an overseas tour under the new coaching management led by Rahul Dravid.
Akhtar said, “No, Indian cricket is not going to fall. You have to handle the situation. There is a big challenge in front of Rahul Dravid. “Hopefully people won’t say that he was overrated as a coach and of course he has to replace Ravi Shastri who did a great job. He has a big challenge ahead of him, let’s see how he performs.” India won the first Test but lost the next two Tests, shattering their dream of winning a series in South Africa once again.
Kohli was appointed India’s Test captain in 2014, replacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and ended his campaign as India’s most successful captain. The thirty-three-year-old Kohli had decided to step down from the captaincy of the T20 team after which he was also dropped as the captain of the ODI team, which exposed differences between him and the top BCCI officials. Akhtar expected this as he saw division in the Indian dressing room during the T20 World Cup.
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“I knew this was going to happen,” he said. At that time I was in Dubai and I am fully aware of it. I was aware of the whole matter and knew through my friends in India what was going on in the Indian dressing room.” Akhtar said, “There were people who were against him. So I was not surprised by his decision to step down from the captaincy. It was not an easy task.” Fast bowlers like Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have led India to some memorable victories in Australia, England and South Africa and Akhtar said fast bowlers have to change the same way tires have to be changed.
“He has made very good progress,” he said. I am very impressed, hope that more such fast bowlers from the subcontinent keep coming and do well.” Akhtar said, “I like everyone, I like Bumrah, Shami is fantastic… it will be good if they develop attitude like Pakistanis.” They are in the final stages of their careers and it’s time to consider their options. “They are like the ‘wheels’ of the team. Of course you’ll have to replace them like you change a ‘tyre’. They also need rest in between.” (agency)