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'At Least 20 Sixes' - Shoaib Akhtar Backs Rohit Sharma To Slam Off Tabraiz Shamsi

image-lommkctdRohit smacked a 22-ball 40 against SA in Eden Gardens (AP Photo)

Shoaib Akhtar was critical of South African wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for delivering a lacklustre spell on a dry, turning Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata in a major hammering at the hands of ICC World Cup 2023 hosts India on Sunday (November 5).

The Proteas were bundled out for a disastrous 83 inside 28 overs of their challenging run-chase after left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (5/33) and Indian seamers ran riot in front of a packed crowd at the historic venue. 

But effectively, the contest was sealed by the close of the first half where Proteas' in-form attack conceded a mammoth 326/5 in their 50 overs on a track offering spinners persistent grip and turn off the good length region.  

One of their key bowlers, Shamsi wasn't allowed to settle in with his lengths and lines by the great Indian batting unit as they smashed him for horrific figures of 1/72 off his 10 overs. Akhtar, however, felt things could've been worse for the left-arm wristspinner had be faced up to an extravagant Rohit Sharma. 


Akhtar lambasts Tabraiz Shamsi with Rohit reference 

The former Pakistan speedster said Rohit, who played another highly influential top-order cameo of 40 from just 24 deliveries and laid the foundation for India's middle-order, featuring legend and centurion Virat Kohli, to rally past the 300-mark, would've smashed Shamsi for "at least 20 sixes" had he faced him on the day. 

Speaking to 'Zee News' in the aftermath of India's huge win to retain their World Cup dominance, the Rawalpindi Express felt Shamsi avoided a greater assault on the day with his late introduction into the attack, stated that had he bowled earlier, he would've been given a severe punishment by Rohit. 

"Rohit Sharma has every shot, if Tabraiz Shamsi bowled such balls to Rohit Sharma, Rohit would've hit him for at least 15 to 20 sixes. India's score would've been 430+ had he faced more overs," Akhtar said, also lauding the Indian captain's selfless assault at the top of the innings. 

Rohit has been in scintillating form in the tournament, giving India aggressive starts while imposing himself on the opposition and ruffling their feathers to ease it up for the rest of the batting line-up. The 36-year-old has made a whopping 442 runs in his eight innings at a strike-rate of 122.77.