Rohit and Gill stitched an explosive partnership against Pakistan [Twitter]
Shaheen Afridi, who jolted the Indian top-order in their Group Stage meeting this Asia Cup 2023, was taken to cleaners by openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in their return fixture in Colombo. Moreover, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul also piled on Afridi’s pain as the speedster finished with expensive figures of 1-79 from his 10 overs.
As per Ravichandran Ashwin, Team India mounted 356-2 in the Super Four tie against their arch-rivals because they were able to counter Shaheen Afridi’s new-ball threat at the top.
Ashwin hails Sharma and Gill for negating Shaheen threat
Shaheen Afridi dismissed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both cheaply during his imperial spell of 4-35 against India during the earlier stages of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. However, the speedster concluded with contrasting figures in his very next outing against the same opponents.
Sharma, alongside his opening partner Shubman Gill formed a 121-run stand at the top inside just 17 overs. Thereafter, Afridi dismissed the latter of the two batters to secure his only wicket of the high-scoring Indian innings.
Watch: Rohit Sharma dispatches Shaheen Afridi for a six
Ravichandran Ashwin, known for his astute analysis on the game, recently took to his YouTube channel and explained the reason behind India’s record total against Pakistan.
The ace spinner also compared Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill with former Sri Lankan openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana and their calculated aggression during the 1996 World Cup. Ashwin said:
“Both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill reminded me of Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana's partnership during the 1996 World Cup. It’s all about who goes back foot first during a game. Pakistan went into the backfoot when India attacked Shaheen Shah Afridi early on.”
The star Indian all-rounder also praised Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for piling on Pakistan’s pain with splendid centuries in the death overs.
“See, you can lose a couple of wickets. But India knew they had the batting strength. So, they knew even if they had lost the openers, they could have put a partnership with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul and made a comeback.”
Team India eventually prevailed in the game by 228 runs, their record margin in ODIs against their arch-rivals Pakistan.
The ‘Men in Blue’, under Rohit Sharma, will now face Bangladesh in their subsequent Super Four game on September 15 before turning up for the Asia Cup 2023 final on September 17 in Colombo.
 "Aakash Saini")
