Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg praised Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav for their quick powerplay comeback. Kohli and Yadav put on a 25-run stand in 20 deliveries after being reduced to 6-2 in the third over.
Pakistan was going all-out for additional wickets in the powerplay with Shaheen Afridi in top form. With a dazzling six that just eluded the deep fielder, Suryakumar Yadav relieved the pressure.
In the powerplay, the left-arm bowler bowled his third successive over and had Kohli on the ropes with three consecutive dot balls. After coming down the track, the Indian captain answered with a six-over long-on.
“Virat Kohli played a wonderful shot straight past over the bowler’s head, that was just counter-attacking play and it was awesome cricket to watch. Even Suryakumar Yadav playing that pull shot off Shaheen Afridi great. That is just courageous, aggressive cricket and if both of them had got out on those particular deliveries. Then everyone would screaming about it, but at some stage, India had to take the risk.” he said
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav bowled by Hasan Ali in the final over of the powerplay, putting an end to the reconstruction. Mohammad Rizwan made his 100th T20 catch with a superb catch behind the stumps. Brad Hogg
The batting unit of India sliced open by Shaheen Afridi’s exploits with the ball. The Men in Blue were unable to handle his angle, pace, and lack of mobility. Hogg emphasized the importance of Afridi’s match-up against Kohli and Rohit Sharma going into the game.
“Shaheen Afridi was just too good. This was a worry for me. Shaheen Shan and Haris Rauf, two young fast bowlers, playing such a high-profile match, the emotions might get to them. He was just on the money from ball one. It was just sensational left-arm bowling upfront. His matchups against Rohit and Kohli were key heading into this match but getting Rahul out was unbelievable,” Hogg explained.
As Pakistan won their first World Cup match against India, Shaheen Afridi named player of the match. Both teams will meet New Zealand next, in a sequence of matches that might decide the group’s fate.
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