Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar wants Team India to win the series against Australia after seeing Team India making a remarkable comeback in the second Test at MCG.
Shoaib Akhtar had earlier joked about India’s embarrassing performance in the first Test when they registered their lowest Test total (36). The visitors went on to lose that match by eight wickets. They bounced back stronger in MCG in the absence of Virat Kohli. Ajinkya Rahane guided them to victory and handed over a moral-destroying defeat to Australia.
After the victory of India in the second Test, Akhtar didn’t shy to reverse his opinion. He heaped praise on the batting performance of Ajinkya Rahane and Co.
“I was telling a few friends in Delhi that India is going to beat the hell out of Australia. I told them that if the batting performs, if the middle order performs, then India has a fair amount of chance to win this series. They said I was hyping up a bit too much,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
The exhibition of character from the Indian team is tremendous: Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar was impressed with the character that Team India showed after the debilitating defeat. He lauded the way Ajinkya Rahane calmly carried the team in the field without showing any animated behaviour.
“I watched the game, one fine morning, I woke up and I saw India were getting hammered by Australia. I thought it was 369 and not 36 for 9. But it was 36 for 9. But you know, characters are exhibited in crisis. The exhibition of character from the Indian team is tremendous. I think this guy is so quiet and so calm. Ajinkya Rahane doesn’t shout or do nasty things on the field, he just stays quiet and does his thing which is cool captaincy. Under his leadership, the guys suddenly performed.” Shoaib Akhtar added.
Shoaib Akhtar bets India to win the series after they turned the table in the second Test.
“Characters like Bumrah, Rahane, Gill Jadeja is playing a crucial role. You somehow put him in any situation and he is going to go out there and perform for you. Look at this, this character has to be shown to the world.
Who would have thought 10-15 years ago that Australia would get hammered by India or Pakistan or some other subcontinent team? Now it’s happening. Now, I want to see this series full of clashes. I want India to win the series because they have made a great comeback. And they have shown a lot of character and great courage. Ajinkya Rahane hundred is just the turnaround,” Akhtar signed off.
For the third Test, Rohit Sharma, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur have been added to India’s squad. It will be interesting to see whether all three will play in Sydney.