IND vs PAK: "If That's My Strength Why Not Use It Against..." - Pakistan Fast Bowler Shaheen Afridi Recalls How He Dismissed Rohit Sharma
Published - 20 Oct 2022, 05:42 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:14 AM
Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has become a nightmare for openers in white-ball cricket. One of his most memorable performances was against India during their Super 12s clash in Dubai in the T20 World Cup in 2021.
The young left-arm seamer took three wickets in that match, including Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. His spectacular spell with the new ball helped Pakistan to win their first-ever World Cup match against India.
Just three days ahead of the blockbuster match between India and Pakistan at the MCG in the 2022 T20 World Cup, Shahid Afridi recalled how Rohit and Rahul’s dismissals were planned.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Shaheen revealed that he is keen to put on a performance against India that sticks in the minds of Pakistan fans. The pressure is on him and his team as they have never defeated India in a World Cup game before.
“A time comes in your career when you want to make a name for yourself and this opportunity comes when you facing the bigger teams. I always wanted to play against India and this was my first T20 against them.
“I wanted to perform in a way that people would always remember. We also hadn’t won against India in a World Cup before,” he said.
Shaheen Afridi said that he exploited Rohit Sharma’s weakness against left-arm seam bowling in the T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian skipper struggled immensely against an inswing delivery from an angle. Rohit was dismissed for a golden duck off a yorker length.
I Had Observed That Rohit Sharma Struggles Against The Inswing – Shaheen Afridi
“I had observed that Rohit Sharma struggles against the inswing, at that yorker length. In 2021, most of my dismissals were with that length. So I thought to myself, if that’s my strength why not use it against him in the first ball that bowl to him,” he recalled.
Shaheen Afridi recalled that he decided not to bowl a yorker to KL Rahul after consulting with Shoaib Malik. Shaheen said that the former Pakistan captain’s crucial advice led to the dismissal of KL Rahul.
“For KL Rahul, I happened to be standing with Shoaib Malik. He asked me if the ball was swinging, and I said, not much. He asked me to not try the yorker ball but the length ball and it might just nip back in. I tried it and that’s exactly what happened. I owe that wicket to Shoaib Malik,” he said.
