Shoaib Akhtar Criticizes Rohit Sharma’s Struggles Against Shaheen Afridi in Asia Cup Opener

In a scathing critique, former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar didn’t hold back his assessment of India’s captain Rohit Sharma’s difficulties facing the left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi during the 2023 Asia Cup opener against Pakistan.

India’s vulnerability against left-arm seamers has been a recurring issue, with Shaheen Afridi being a particular nemesis. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shaheen had wreaked havoc on India’s top-order, and India’s preparations for the Asia Cup included enlisting the services of uncapped Indian left-arm pacer Ankit Chaudhury during their training camp. However, during the match, India’s top-order struggled once again against Shaheen, with both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli falling victim to his in-swinging deliveries.

Rohit Sharma, who had started promisingly before a rain interruption, fell prey to Shaheen’s sharp delivery upon resumption. Shortly after, Virat Kohli too was dismissed, marking the second instance where the legendary batter was bowled by Shaheen’s outside-off delivery.

Akhtar said

Shoaib Akhtar expressed his bafflement at Rohit’s approach against Shaheen, suggesting that the Indian captain appeared to be struggling with his game plan and had changed his stance. He went on to say that Shaheen seemed to have instilled fear in Rohit’s mind.

“Yeh Rohit Sharma woh Rohit Sharma hai hi nahi. Yeh uska stunt double hai. Shaheen uske dimaag mein baith gaya hai. (This is not the same Rohit Sharma. This one’s a stunt double. Shaheen has conquered his mind). I have never seen him change his stance, but what was happening there? Stance change kara, beat hua, bowled hua (He changed his stance and got bowled). Shaheen is subconsciously in his mind. This is what pressure of IND vs PAK match does to players,” Shoaib Akhtar said during a virtual press conference.

Akhtar’s assessment comes in the context of Rohit’s previous struggles against Shaheen, dating back to the 2021 T20 World Cup, and his difficulties against Pakistan in recent T20I encounters.

India’s upcoming matches in the Asia Cup Super 4 stage will once again put the spotlight on Rohit Sharma’s performance, as the team faces arch-rivals Pakistan, defending champions Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. India’s success in the tournament will largely depend on the form of their star batters, including Rohit Sharma.

As cricket fans eagerly anticipate these high-stakes encounters, Rohit’s ability to counter Shaheen Afridi’s threat will undoubtedly be a critical factor in India’s quest for success in the Asia Cup 2023.

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