Shoaib Akhtar, former Pakistan pacer popularly known as Rawalpindi Express has reacted to Team India’s horror batting display at Adelaide in 3rd day in the 1st Pink-ball Test against Australia and said that he was happy that Virat Kohli’s men have “broken” Pakistan’s dubious record.
Shoaib Akhtar was happy that India scored 36 only in the 2nd innings of the Pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide breaking the record of his nation. Notably, Pakistan were bowled out at their lowest Test total of 49 versus South Africa in Johannesburg in 2013.
Shoaib Akhtar: Thought India Had Scored 369 But Rubbed Eyes To See Carefully India Scored 36/9
The 45-year-old pacer claimed that he did not watch the match yesterday night and when he switched on his TV today, he thought that the arch-rivals have aggregated 369 runs. He said that he rubbed his eyes and watched the TV screen carefully again to realize that there was a ‘slash sign’ between 36 and 9.
In the very next moment, the Rawalpindi-born called “mighty India’s” batting collapse a “bad news”. Shoaib Akhtar advised that India should now be ready to face criticism for their “embarrassing batting”.
“I woke up and the morning and switched on the TV. Could not see the match yesterday night. I saw India had put 369 on the board. Then I rubbed my eyes and saw carefully, I saw it’s 36 and there is slash before 9 and one is retired hurt. Embarrassing loss. Embarrassing batting, world’s mighty batting crumbling down.”
“They broke our record also. 36 all out! This is disgraceful performance, it’s terrible. But happiest that they broke our (Pakistan’s) record. Anyways, this happens in cricket. Bare it and bare the criticism, this is going to happen to you now. So, mighty India come crumbling down. This is bad news,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
Shoaib Akhtar’s very first statement looks like a fabricated one, considering that the Day-Night match between India and Australia used to start at 9:30 AM IST and end by 5 in the evening and also there is no major time difference between India and Pakistan, but he may not have known the timing or haven’t followed it in the previous two days.
India Performed Disgracefully As No Batsmen Registered Double-Digit Score
India were handed a massive eight wickets defeat by the hosts after India collapsed to their lowest ever Test total. Not even a single Indian batsman could score in double digits as pacer Josh Hazlewood scalped 5 wickets for just 8 runs in the 2nd innings. Pat Cummins too accounted for four wickets as the duo brought curtains to India’s in-depth batting.
India and Australia will next meet in the Boxing Day Test which starts from December 26 in Melbourne. Regular Indian skipper Virat Kohli will not feature in next Test as he will head back home. Ajinkya Rahane will lead in his absence.
So, with Prithvi Shaw’s failure, Shubman Gill may be tried out in next Test or Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant may get a look in making way for Hanuma Vihari or Wriddhiman Saha who failed to create an impact.