would akira be able to solve the kira case and catch light?
On his own? Probably not unless he cheats with the velvet room or his supernatural powers. Or fakes his own death. It took everyone from the phantom thieves to catch onto Goro Akechi and make a counterplan to the assassination of Akira. That's why he needed everyone's skill set because their teamwork is what made everything pay off in the end.
I mean, his father, Katsuya ( in my canon here on this blog ) is a detective and sure Akira learned something from him albeit subconsciously because he hates his father ( as they are somewhat alike ), but it's not like he's a master of deduction. Akira is more trial and error if anything. He's a big risk taker and while that might work as L took risks too, there's a chance that Light would somehow catch onto that.
In all, I think Light is much smarter than Goro Akechi since he isn't blinded by hatred for Akira, Takuto Maruki or Masayoshi Shido. Sure he has his rivalry with L but nothing on the scale of hatred that is one Goro Akechi. Although, Akira thanks to his third eye probably could see Ryuk but there would be little that he could do if he ever found out about Light's secret.
So tldr is that by himself it would take a wishing star to pull off the feat but within his group, it's totally possible.