India Pakistan match: How Shaheen Shah Afridi returned a different bowler after rain break to rattle India

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Shaheen Shah Afridi again emerged as the main man for Pakistan in their all-important clash against India in the Asia Cup 2023 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The left-arm pacer started with a perfect yorker length delivery but soon sprayed a few deliveries on the leg-stump as India captain Rohit Sharma pounced on the opportunity and flicked them for classy-looking boundaries.

Legendary Wasim Akram accused him of over-trying during the first rain enforced break just 4.2 overs after the start of the match. He added that the 23-year-old was pitching the delivery a lot fuller, adding that the rain break could help him figure out his plans and correct the wrong he was doing.

Just on the fourth delivery after the play resumed, Shaheen Afridi castled the stumps of Rohit Sharma with an unplayable delivery. But the trap was laid on the previous two short of a length deliveries shaping away from the right-hander. The delivery which sent Rohit packing, nipped back in to breach the defence of Rohit Sharma.

It was the same length Wasim Akram was talking about during the break. Shaheen Shah Afridi pulled back his length and stuck to his basics. The magical delivery to Rohit was enough for India to recall their ghost of the past.

Shaheen Afridi was the man who rattled India in the T20 World Cup 2023 by dismissing their top three. Even the great Virat Kohli was stuck in his thought process when his indecisiveness led to him chopping a delivery from Shaheen onto the stumps. A delivery which did not deserve any wicket got Pakistan the most prized wicket of Kohli.

Later, a 138-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, set India on course to a 300-run total. India were well placed at 239/5 in 43 overs when Hardik Pandya was going all guns blazing and had the company of a very dangerous Ravindra Jadeja.

Shaheen Shah Afridi showcased his class again. bowling a full length slower delivery to Hardik. The length of the delivery tempted Hardik to go with the shot but foxed by the slower delivery, he was caught by Salman Agha at short cover.

On the final delivery of the over, he tempted Ravindra Jadeja to a drive by bowling a delivery full and wide of the off-stump. An edge was generated and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan did the rest of the job.

The star pacer learnt from his mistake within no time and finished with figures of four for 35 in 10 overs. He finished with most wickets for Pakistan and was their most economical bowler on the day.

The two wickets in the 44th over, derailed India's momentum. India slipped from their strong position to get bundled out for 266 in 48.5 overs.