Pakistan’s young pace sensation, Shaheen Afridi, showcased his brilliance by dismissing two of India’s most prized batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in the highly anticipated IND vs PAK clash during the Asia Cup 2023. Afridi’s outstanding performance dismantled the Men in Blue’s batting lineup early in the innings, contributing to Pakistan’s eventual victory.
In a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters, Afridi revealed that the team’s strategy was to secure early wickets to put Team India on the back foot. The young pacer expressed his delight at getting the wicket of Rohit Sharma, stating that he enjoyed it more than dismissing Virat Kohli. Afridi’s plan to strike early with the new ball initially faced some challenges as he conceded boundaries to the Indian skipper. However, a rain delay helped him regain his rhythm, leading to his exceptional bowling display.
Afridi showcased his skills by outfoxing Rohit Sharma twice with impressive movement and eventually rattled the opener’s stumps with a fiery inswinger that hit the top of the off-stump. In his next over, he forced an error from Virat Kohli, who chopped the ball onto his stumps while attempting to create room. This remarkable feat made Afridi the first bowler in international cricket to dismiss Rohit and Kohli by bowling them in an ODI match during his opening spell.
Afridi’s contributions did not end there, as he returned towards the end of the innings to dismiss both Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja in the same over. This crucial performance played a significant role in Pakistan’s comeback and restricted India to a total of 266 runs. Alongside Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf also made vital contributions, picking up three wickets each.
The Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan lived up to its hype, with Shaheen Afridi stealing the limelight with his exceptional bowling display. His ability to remove the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early in the innings played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s victory. With this performance, Afridi has further solidified his status as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the world.
By dismantling India’s top-order and leading Pakistan’s comeback, Shaheen Afridi has undoubtedly marked his name as a rising star in international cricket. Fans are eager to witness Afridi’s future battles against the world’s best batsmen as he continues to showcase his immense talent on the cricket field.
