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The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2023 clash between India and Pakistan witnessed a dramatic top-order collapse from the Indian cricket team on Saturday, September 2. Choosing to bat first under overcast conditions at Pallekele Stadium, India found themselves reeling at 66/4 within the first 15 overs. The downward spiral was initiated by the wicket of Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who was cleaned up by Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 5th over.
Rohit Sharma, who had been scoring cautiously, was undone by a lethal inswinger from Afridi right after the match resumed post a rain interruption. "I don't think Rohit is able to read or understand Shaheen at all," commented Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistan fast bowler, on his YouTube channel.
He expressed disappointment over the way Rohit presented himself, stating, "The visual of Rohit Sharma being beaten like this was not good, he is a far better player than this. Rohit can bat much better than this, I think he is worrying too much."
Shoaib Akhtar didn't stop at criticizing Sharma. He further explained that the frequent rain stoppages could have broken the rhythm of the Indian batsmen, leading to a loss in focus. "The constant interruptions by rain, leading to the players going off the ground and coming back in, it affects the focus of the batters," said Akhtar. He highlighted Shubman Gill's dismissal as an example, stating that he lost his concentration due to the interruptions.
Praising Shaheen Afridi's bowling, Akhtar was in awe of the young bowler's control over both the old and new ball. Afridi managed to dismiss heavyweights like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. "What a spell it was by Shaheen Afridi, what a bowler he is. Everyone knows what he will do, pitch it full and bring it back in, and in spite that Rohit Sharma had no answer. But, what is Rohit Sharma supposed to do, in his defence he had last played him in 2022, he does not get the opportunity to face him too often," Akhtar lauded, making it clear that Sharma's lack of recent exposure to Afridi’s bowling could have played a part in his downfall.
The Asia Cup 2023 showdown between these two cricketing giants further fuels the historic rivalry, with Shaheen Afridi emerging as the match hero. Shoaib Akhtar's analysis of the match events brings deeper insight into the gameplay dynamics and how external factors like weather conditions can severely impact a team's performance. Keep an eye out for more Asia Cup updates as the tournament unfolds.
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