Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has sent out another warning to Indian openers, captain Rohit Sharma and young Shubman Gill, after India and Pakistan were confirmed to have a game in the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup 2023, following India’s thumping 10-wicket win over Nepal in Pallekele.
When is India vs Pakistan next match?
India will meet Pakistan in the Super 4 round on September 10 in Colombo.
India’s openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 74(59) and 67(62) respectively against Nepal to gun down the DLS adjusted target of 145 in 20.1 overs in the chase that was chiseled to 23 overs for India. Rohit Sharma bagged the Man of the Match award and this would have given him great confidence after his dismissal for a low score against Pakistan when he scored only 11 runs.
Salman Butt, though, reckons that Rohit Sharma may have felt better about his batting after his knock against Nepal, but Shaheen Afridi, he added, is a unique bowler and the challenge will be a lot tougher for the India captain than what he faced against Nepal.
“There is a feelgood factor after a batter scores some runs. While it will surely increase the confidence of the Indian batters, Shaheen Afridi carries an X-factor with him. There is no other bowler like him in world cricket today. I won’t say he is one of the best. He is the best new ball bowler in the world. It doesn’t matter what you did against Nepal because there is nobody like Shaheen in any other team,” Butt said in his recent YouTube video.
Shaheen’s ability to swing the ball late can trouble any batter: Butt
In the Group A IND vs PAK match, Shaheen Afridi rocked India with wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early on. He then returned to dismiss Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. Shubman Gill found life tough against the new ball spells of Shaheen and Naseem Shah before being bowled by Haris Rauf.
Salmabt Butt praised Shubman Gill for doing well so far in his career against the likes of Nortje, Rabada, and Ferguson. But, the ex-Pakistan skipper pointed out, Shaheen brings swing with his high pace which makes him so difficult to even survive with the new ball.
“Shubman Gill would have batted against the likes of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rababa, who bowl at 150 kph. It is not only the pace. Along with pace, the line, length, and swing are the main factors. This is the same Gill who hit Nortje pull off the front foot. In fact, he scored a double hundred against New Zealand, who had Lockie Ferguson.
“He has faced bowlers who are quicker than Shaheen. However, Shaheen’s ability to swing the ball late can trouble any batter. Gill is still very new. But Rohit Sharma, with all his experience, also struggled against Shaheen,” he added.
