IND vs PAK: 'Rohit Sharma And KL Rahul Looked Under Pressure' - Shoaib Akhtar Reviews India vs Pakistan Encounter

In the T20 World Cup encounter on Sunday, India’s opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul appeared to be under siege from Pakistan, according to former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar. 

India’s chase of the 160-run goal got off to a terrible start. By returning Rahul and Rohit to the dugout early on, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf hindered India’s attempt to score runs. Before Iftikhar Ahmed made a brilliant save at slip to eliminate Rohit (4 off 7) off the bowling of Haris, Naseem struck and removed Rahul (4 off 8) from the game.

Rohit Sharma Should Calm Himself Down: Shoaib Akhtar

“India openers looked under pressure. Rohit Sharma as a captain should calm himself down and KL Rahul is throwing his wicket by focusing too much on himself,” Shoaib Akhtar said on his YouTube channel. 

The Rawalpindi Express also expressed optimism for a rematch between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup’s later rounds.

 “Right now, India have won one match and Pakistan have lost one match. Pakistan will meet India in this World Cup again in the later stage. When India and Pakistan play only then the World Cup starts.” 

The game’s finest match in history, according to Shoaib Akhtar, was the one that included a dramatic final over. 

“It was one of the best matches in the history of the game. The wicket was very bad, where it was difficult to understand the ball. But Pakistan achieved 160 on it. Pakistan could have had achieved more but unfortunately, our lower middle order couldn’t play maturely.

Pakistan Should Not Be Devastated From This Game, They Played Well: Shoaib Akhtar

The former Pakistani pacer pushed his side to overcome the setback rather than crumble in the wake of it.

“Pakistan accept this defeat with grace and comeback with a strategy and resources and a better game plan. You don’t have to fall from here, you have played wonderfully,” Shoaib Akhtar said.  

When Arshdeep Singh cheaply fired Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, it shook Pakistan. Along the way, the left-arm fast bowler from India made bowling history by capturing both of Pakistan’s openers in the same inning. Pakistan was limited to 159/8 by Arshdeep (3/32) and Hardik Pandya (3/30). 

Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya carried the game to the limit when India’s top order quickly collapsed, with Kohli being the more aggressive of the two. Mohammad Nawaz’s two wayward shots and a no-ball equalised the score. For a single, Ravichandran Ashwin cleared the infield to give India a four-wicket victory. 

Also Read: IND vs PAK: Hardik Pandya Becomes First Indian, Overall 8th All-Rounder To Score 1000 Runs And Pick 50 Wickets In T20Is