New Delhi,Updated: September 11, 2023 12:46 IST
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif believes that the encounter between fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and star batsman Virat Kohli will be important on the reserve day of the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match between India and Pakistan in Colombo on Monday.
Notably, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill hit brilliant fifties to take India to 147 for 2 against Pakistan on Sunday, before the skies opened up to force the Asia Cup Super 4 match into a reserve day. After the proceedings were stopped due to rain at 4.52 pm on Sunday, the Reserve Day proceedings will start at 3 pm Indian time.
“Overcoming challenges is one of Virat’s best qualities. It has become his habit. It’s a big match, and his record against Pakistan is very good. Whenever he plays against Pakistan, his bat speaks. And people have a lot of expectations from him. People have expectations from someone who performs well regularly. For new players, since it is a big game, the expectations are not that high. But if senior players If Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma fail, fans don’t like it at all. There is no compromise on this; they have to perform with the bat and continue their form from the last two or three years and also in the World Cup. Have to perform well,” Kaif said while speaking exclusively to Star Sports on Follow the Blues Live.
When the rain started, India had played 24.1 overs and the rain would start from the same point (24.2 overs) the next day. Virat Kohli (8) and KL Rahul (17) are the two unbeaten batsmen. This also means that Indian players will have to play two more consecutive days, starting with the reserve day against Pakistan on Monday and the Super 4 match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Kaif urged the players not to be defensive and advised them to keep an eye on the boundary even on the first ball, whether they are facing Naseem Shah, Afridi or Rauf.
“Shaheen will continue to bring the ball in while bowling his inswing. He has told himself that his game plan is very simple, bring the ball in and bring it fast. Let the batsman do whatever he wants to do, his game plan is simple Have it – bring it.” The ball came in, hit the pad and hit the stumps. So it will be exciting to see Virat Kohli in the form in which he will compete against them; This is the most important match of the game. What makes Virat special is his ability to play in big matches, and he will not play on the backfoot. Naseem Shah, Afridi or Rauf, whoever is bowling, do not play on the backfoot. If you get a chance, even on the first ball, watch the boundary,” Kaif said.
