"Virat also needs privacy, and this is what he gets there" - Wasim Akram opens up on chat with Kohli over Indian batter shifting base to London
Former Pakistan Wasim Akram recently opened up on a conversation he had with Virat Kohli over the latter's decision to shift base to London. Akram revealed that the Indian cricketer told him about having his own space in England, similar to what the Pakistan legend has in Australia.
When not busy with his cricketing assignments, Kohli has been spotted in public places in London with his family a number of times in recent months. During the ongoing India vs Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth, the former India captain was seen having a chat with Akram.
When presenter Jatin Sapru asked the former Pakistan left-arm pacer about his friendly discussion with the Indian cricket legend, Akram replied (as quoted by crictoday.com):
“I can’t reveal everything, but I wanted to know about his family and how England is treating him. He told me that the place allows him to go for walks, as is the case with me here in Australia. He is a big star in India and is followed by fans wherever he goes. Virat also needs privacy to be himself and this is what he gets over there."
Kohli was dismissed for five in the first innings of the Perth Test against Australia. He fended a well-directed short ball from Josh Hazlewood to first slip, where Usman Khawaja took a simple catch.
Virat Kohli began practice after stumps on Day 2
Kohli, who has been struggling for form for a while now, was seen practicing at the Optus Stadium in Perth immediately after the close of play on Day 2 of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test. He was seen driving some balls and even playing a flick as the crowd cheered him on.
The 36-year-old managed only 93 runs in six innings at an average of 15.50 during the three-match Test series at home against New Zealand, which the hosts lost 3-0. Of his 93 runs, 70 came in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test after he had been dismissed for a duck in the first innings. In the second Test in Pune, he scored 1 & 17 and ended the forgettable series with 4 & 1 in Mumbai.
Since the start of 2024, Kohli has scored 255 runs in 13 Test innings, averaging an underwhelming 21.25, with just one half-century to his credit. He will be keen to come up with a big score on Day 3 in Perth. Meanwhile, India will resume their second innings at 172-0, looking to stretch their lead of 218 runs.