’Don’t think Rohit is able to read Shaheen..’: Shoaib Akhtar’s comments on ’beaten’ India captain

Despite the blockbuster match between India and Pakistan – held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy in the Asia Cup 2023 on 2 September – being called off due to rains, it has critics enough points to discuss how the next match between the two World Cup winners.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first in the match. However, a fiery spell by Pakistan's pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf forced the Indians to rethink their strategy once again.

Be it Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, or Virat Kohli, all had no answers to the brilliant bowling attack by the Pakistani pacers and lost their wickets in the powerplay itself.

Apart from Ishan Kishan (82) and Hardik Pandya (87), no other could handle the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and the youngster Naseem Shah.

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Kishan and Pandya forged a remarkable 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket after India was left reeling at 66/4. Due to this partnership, India managed to reach a score of 266 in 48.5 overs.

Reacting to the dismissal of Rohit Sharma, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar even insisted the Indian skipper can 'do much better'.

"What a spell it was by Shaheen Afridi, what a bowler he is. Everyone knows what he will do, pitch it fully and bring it back in, and despite that, Rohit Sharma had no answer. But, what is Rohit Sharma supposed to do, in his defense, he had last played him in 2022, and he does not get the opportunity to face him too often," HT quoted Akhtar as he began talking about the game on his official YouTube channel.

“I don't think Rohit can read or understand Shaheen at all. The visual of Rohit Sharma being beaten like this was not good, he is a far better player than this. Rohit can bat much better than this, I think he is worrying too much.”

As the match was called off due to rain, both India and Pakistan were awarded 1 point each.

Pakistan now has 3 points, while India has 1 in Group A. However, Nepal – which lost to Pakistan in the series opener by 238 runs – has zero points.

Pakistan has qualified for the next stage. India is all set to play with Nepal in the next match on 4 September. If India wins the match against Nepal, it will proceed to the next stage and if the match is also canceled like it happened on 2 September at Pallekele, then Pakistan and India will go through to Super 4s.