Last time when Team India met Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, Shaheen Afridi proved to be the Men in Blue’s primary obstacle, breaking the spine of the Indian batting. Times have changed and most importantly, we have travelled from the bowling-friendly surfaces of UAE to Australia where there is something for everything.
Two days from now, Team India will be colliding with Pakistan in their T20 World Cup opener and they would be desperate to carry their momentum that they secured against South Africa and Australia and at the end of it all, start the tournament on a victorious note. As the hunt for the win in the clash of the arch-rivals gets stronger than ever, here are three batters whom India can use to blunt Shaheen Shah Afridi.
#1 Virat Kohli
Needless to say, Virat Kohli is the best possible option against whom Shaheen couldn’t make much inroads. The answer for the same is simple. Kohli’s tactics are picture perfect and that makes it a lot more difficult for any bowler to bowl to. Especially when it comes to the yorkers, Kohli is always on his toes, defending them. There have been rare occasions where he has failed to let the ball stop at his disposal and with such command, it won’t be wrong to expect Virat to take a stand against Shaheen Shah Afridi.
#2 Suryakumar Yadav
The Mumbai Indians biffer is at the peak of his form and the kind of brilliance that he is showcasing to the world, there is absolutely no stop to it. A phenomenal hitter of the cherry and an imposing batter, Surya has a knack for shuffling around in the crease. Last time India met Pakistan, he was short of experience. This time, however, things are different. He has matured over due time and the quality that he is now bringing to the plate is even better. On top of that, he is an excellent player of the flick. If Shaheen will have to use that yorker against him, he will have to be dead accurate, otherwise, you may probably see SKY unrelenting in his approach.
#3 KL Rahul
Another top-order batter who failed in 2021 against Pakistan, KL Rahul is altogether in a different headspace at the moment. He has found himself in terrific form and the kind of domination that he has managed to stitch off late, makes him an irresistible pick. He also has a wide array of strokes in his arsenal and knowing Rahul, he is a learner from his mistakes. Even though pace has been a bother, his recent knocks would give you the hint, that he is prepping himself for something way bigger than his exploits in 2021.
