Indian skipper Rohit Sharma faltered to seam bowling yet again. After the rain break, Shaheen Afridi with a devilish inswing castled Rohit Sharma to strike an early blow to the Men in Blue. Afridi then went to replicate the same with Virat Kohli who departed after scoring just 4 runs in the crucial IND vs PAK clash in Asia Cup 2023.
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After winning the toss, India were off to a cautious start. Both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill attacked the loose balls but were cautious to leave the dangerous outswingers and block the devilish inswingers. But it was the rain break that took the momentum away from the Indian side.
Back after the short break, Shaheen Afridi showcased his masterclass. He cleverly played with Rohit Sharma and traped the Indian skipper with a devilish inswinger. Rohit was castled and had to return back to the pavilion. On came Virat Kohli who opened his account with a classic cover driver but 2 minutes later, an inside edge from Afridi rattled his stumps.
Rohit Sharma Dismissal
Shaheen Afridi trapped Rohit with his clever bowling. 2 outswingers and then the third ball had to be an inswinger. Rohit failed to judge that. A length ball around the off stump and a devilish inswinger goes between the bat and pad to castle Rohit. Off goes the off stump and the Indian skipper had to trot back to the pavilion.
Virat Kohli Dismissal
Virat Kohli survived in the pitch for just 7 balls. But he did entertain us with his classic cover driver. But then again it was Shaheen Afridi who got the batter of the Indian veteran. A short of a length ball pitched outside the off stump prompted Kohli to punch it though the covers. The sheer pace of the ball hits the bat and then deflects into the stump.