Virat Kohli tied the knot so soon: Shoaib Akhtar

LAHORE: Pakistan's legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said that he wanted India’s former all-format captain Virat Kohli to get married after making history by scoring 120 centuries.

Akhtar made these remarks while talking about the performance pressure on Kohli as he recently stepped down as captain of the Indian Test cricket team, following the Test series loss to South Africa.

In a video clip, Akhtar said: "If I was in India and had such opportunities, I would not have married. I would never increase my responsibilities."

He added that if he was an Indian cricketer he would focus on his cricket and marry only after clinching 400 wickets.

“Anyways, that was his personal decision,” Akhtar added.

Responding to a question about the rift between Kohli and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Akhtar said that he did not know much about the matter, adding, "Whatever has to happen has happened."

"He has a bat in his hand and has an opportunity," he said, adding that he did not want that Kohli should be dropped for short or long formats of cricket.

Performance pressure was there on Kohli, he said and advised the Indian player to focus on his cricket.