Wasim Akram Criticizes Star Sports for Virat Kohli Coverage in Champions Trophy 2025

Image credits: AFP

The Champions Trophy 2025 has kicked off with a bang, featuring high-stakes matches, intense rivalries, and legendary cricketers taking center stage. One name that always carries immense expectations is Virat Kohli, known for his aggressive batting and unmatched consistency. However, his start in the tournament was less than ideal, leaving fans and critics divided. In India's opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai, Kohli was dismissed for just 22 runs off 38 balls by Bangladesh's leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram didn't hold back during a post-match show on a Pakistani TV channel. When the host praised Kohli's outstanding record, Akram jokingly responded by saying that if you want to talk about Kohli, you should watch Star Sports. His comment, followed by a hearty laugh, amused everyone on the panel. While it seemed like a playful jab at how Indian media heavily focuses on Kohli, Akram later acknowledged that the 36-year-old is still "one of the best" players in world cricket. The Indian team, however, bounced back strongly, with Shubman Gill leading from the front and scoring his eighth ODI century.

India started strong and quickly made an impact, putting Bangladesh in deep trouble at 35/5 during the powerplay. The Indian bowlers tore through the top order, putting the Bangladesh batters under immense pressure. However, Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy built a strong partnership of 154 runs for the sixth wicket, helping Bangladesh reach a respectable total. Chasing 229 runs, India reached the target comfortably with 21 balls to spare. Gill remained unbeaten on 101 off 129 balls, smashing nine fours and two sixes, and also shared an 87-run partnership with KL Rahul, ensuring Bangladesh never got a chance to make a comeback.

The match scores were as follows:

• India: 233/4 (Shubman Gill 101*, KL Rahul 43)
• Bangladesh: 229 (Towhid Hridoy 100, Jaker Ali 68)

The player statistics for the match were:

• Shubman Gill: 101* off 129 balls
• Towhid Hridoy: 100 off 120 balls
• Mohammed Shami: 2/40 off 10 overs

The tournament schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025 is as follows:

1. India vs Bangladesh: June 1, 2025
2. Australia vs England: June 2, 2025
3. India vs Pakistan: June 3, 2025

The team rankings for the Champions Trophy 2025 are:

• India: 1st
• Australia: 2nd
• England: 3rd

The cricket world had its eyes glued to Kohli as he walked onto the pitch, expecting yet another masterclass. However, Bangladesh's young leg-spinner, Rishad Hossain, had other plans. Kohli seemed unusually cautious from the start, struggling to find gaps and rotate the strike.

Cricket rivalries often extend beyond the field, especially when legends like Wasim Akram are involved. During a post-match show on a Pakistani TV channel, Akram couldn't resist a playful dig. The panel burst into laughter, but Akram didn't let the joke overshadow his respect for Kohli. He quickly added that despite the rough start, "Kohli is still one of the best players in the world." The Indian team will look to build on their winning momentum as they face Pakistan in their next match, which promises to be an exciting encounter.

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