The hardest factor is to repeat the boring stuff. Not for Shaheen Shah Afridi. How many occasions have we seen him do that to India? Pitch the ball on the center stump, take it away from the right-hander repeatedly until it bends the opposite method. We know batters prepare for these eventualities. But so rattling is Afridi’s incoming supply that it’s more likely to be his most defining reminiscence when he’s performed with cricket. It’s not that India haven’t tried. Shuffle throughout the stumps? Done. Play late? That too. Afridi nonetheless sneaks by way of.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of India’s Hardik Pandya (not pictured) through the Asia Cup 2023 ODI match at Pallekele(AFP)
Absolutely magical had been these two Afridi deliveries that cleaned up Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul on the 2021 T20 World Cup. The swing was extra distinguished in Dubai, and neither batter did his repute any favour by dropping stability in a bid to counter the motion. But these are the kind of mishaps that function a lesson and enable you to put together. And you would discover that warning in Sharma’s stance on Saturday in India’s opening Asia Cup recreation at Pallekele. He was measured, presenting the complete face of the bat, making an attempt to be compact in each potential method, all to see out Afridi’s preliminary spell.
Afridi ramped up his tempo although. Not by loads, but sufficient to rush on to Sharma. And he additionally shortened his size by a few yards as soon as play resumed after a quick spell of rain. Several close-up replays solely heighten the intrigue that builds up to date a batter masses up for a lure he was each dreading and making ready for. This was on a size round off, and as a substitute of leaving the batter or holding its line, this ball in the reduction of a bit. Sharma’s bat was barely gradual to return down, giving Afridi sufficient time to get by way of and peg again the off-stump.
Virat Kohli’s dismissal got here eight balls later however such was the one-way visitors that it didn’t really feel like Afridi was bowling his subsequent over. With Shubman Gill scratching round, India hadn’t made a dent by the seventh over, so Kohli wasn’t incorrect in making an attempt to get the rating going. The selection of shot nonetheless wasn’t essentially the most prudent, particularly on a sticky pitch the place the ball tended to cease and are available.
This was wanting size exterior off, prompting Kohli to open his bat and glide it down to 3rd man for a single. But he wasn’t in place. Afridi’s supply took an enormous inside edge onto Kohli’s pad earlier than crashing into his leg stump. India had been 27/2 and Afridi was off celebrating. Later, the broadcaster confirmed that in ODIs since 2021, Sharma averages 22.8 towards left-armers and Kohli 21.8.
But as soon as once more we noticed that Afridi most likely dredges deeper insecurities.
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
