George Harris
Oct 14, 2023 - 09:10

India vs Pakistan, World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi believes that removing Rohit Sharma early is the key to putting pressure on the Indian batting line-up. Afridi stated that Sharma is a difficult batter to bowl against and dismissing him will put the Indian team under pressure.

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma poses a significant threat to the Indian batting line-up. Afridi, speaking on Star Sports ahead of the highly anticipated clash in the ODI World Cup, emphasized the importance of dismissing Sharma early in order to put pressure on the rest of the Indian team.

Afridi acknowledged Sharma's impressive track record and described him as a challenging batsman to bowl against. He believes that by removing the Indian captain early on, the following players will be under immense pressure to perform.

Highlighting Sharma's impact on the Indian team, Afridi stated, "He is the main player and the idea will be to dismiss him and put the team under pressure."

Sharma recently achieved a remarkable feat by scoring the fastest hundred by an Indian in the ODI World Cup. In the game against Afghanistan, he reached a century in just 63 balls, surpassing the record set by legendary cricketer Kapil Dev in 1983.

In a previous encounter between India and Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match, Sharma played a crucial role in India's victory. Alongside Shubman Gill, he formed a century partnership, setting the stage for KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to dominate the game. Both Kohli and Rahul scored centuries, propelling India to a massive total of 357 runs. In response, Pakistan struggled with their batting and were dismissed for just 128 runs.

Both India and Pakistan have showcased strong batting performances in recent matches. India displayed their prowess against Afghanistan, while Pakistan successfully chased down a record World Cup total against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad.

As the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan approaches, all eyes will be on the battle between Rohit Sharma and the Pakistani bowlers. Afridi's remarks highlight the significance of Sharma's wicket and the impact it can have on the outcome of the match.