'Ye Rohit Nahi Hai..,' Shoaib Akhtar Slams Indian Captain For Poor Batting vs PAK
Rohit Sharma failed against Shaheen Afridi in Asia Cup (Twitter)
Former Pakistan speedster is baffled with Rohit Sharma's batting approach against Shaheen Shah Afridi. On the official broadcaster Star Sports Show, Shoaib blasted Rohit Sharma and criticized him on air.
Shoaib who was a revered pacer of his time had some tough words for India's opening bat Rohit who is supposedly India's captain. Akhtar openly slammed at Rohit for his batting style of late.
In India's tournament opener against Pakistan, again the left arm threat ate them up. Leading up to this tournament, India had rookie pacer Ankit Chaudhury bowling to the batters in net sessions of Alur camp.
However, on the match day, India had no answer to Shaheen Afridi. Akhtar strongly believes Shaheen has instilled fear in the mind of India's one of the best opening bat in limited overs cricket.
The fear has forced Rohit to change his stance subsequently. Rohit fell prey to Shaheen's inswinger after passing the first spell almost. Rohit had the upper hand over Shaheen till the rain happened, post that it took three balls for Shaheen to send Rohit back in the pavilion. He tactically set Rohit up with two outswingers. On third ball, Shaheen pitched at the same spot and Rohit was expecting an inswinger. But he missed the line and the ball went through the gap of bat and pad. It rattled not only the stumps but the hopes of millions of fans.
"Yeh, Rohit Sharma woh Rohit Sharma hai hi nahi. Yeh uska stunt double hai. Shaheen uske dimaag mein baith gaya hai. I have never seen him change his stance, but what was happening there? Stance change kara, beat hua, bowled hua. Shaheen is subconsciously in his mind. This is what pressure of IND vs PAK match does to players."
Criticizing Rohit's approach, Akhtar literally asked on air if it's the same Rohit Sharma who score 140 in Manchester in 2019 or not. It's look like his stunt double. According to Shoaib's memory, he hasn't seen Rohit change his stance and even changing stance couldn't save him from getting out to Shaheen. He got beaten comprehensively, calling this action due to the pressure of India-Pakistan games. Even Virat Kohli fell prey to Shaheen. In few days time, on Sunday they will lock horns against each other once more in the Super 4's.
 "Amit Das")
