Published 18:13 IST, May 26th 2020
Shoaib Akhtar mocks Virender Sehwag again, reveals toughest Indian batsman to bowl at
Shoaib Akhtar takes another dig at former Indian opener Virender Sehwag as he claims the latter could not score much while playing against him.
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Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has been vocal on social media in recent times, talking about various aspects and issues about game of cricket. ex-fast bowler, who has more than 400 wickets across all formats, was one of most feared pacers in world when he was at his peak. He had many great on-field rivalries against his opponents, especially with Indian players such as Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and ofcourse Sachin Tendulkar. However, re is one or Indian whom Shoaib Akhtar wished to play against and that is Virat Kohli.
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Shoaib Akhtar takes ar sly dig at Virender Sehwag
In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, great Pakistan fast bowler claimed that former Indian opener Virender Sehwag was someone who could t t score freely while playing against him. Shoaib Akhtar was quoted as saying "I bowled him short initially when I should have bowled ball that's going away from him. After I figured him, he could t score much against me. I bowled him out on multiple occasions, including at IPL and in Lahore." Akhtar and Sehwag had a fierce rivalry. Indian did get better of Akhtar on most instances, ending up with an aver of above 70 against Pakistan solely in Test matches.
However, Akhtar was more respectful towards Rahul Dravid. On many occasions in past, Pakistani called Dravid as toughest Indian batsman he has ever bowled to. pacer claimed that it was demoralising to see a batsman played with a dead straight bat to a delivery which was extremely fast. With Dravid being someone who never seemed to give away his wicket easily, Akhtar claimed that he found it harder to bowl at Dravid more than Sehwag and Tendulkar.
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Also Read | Shoaib Akhtar claims to have been 'sad' over dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in 2003 WC clash
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Throwback to when Shoaib Akhtar demolished Virender Sehwag's Delhi Daredevils in IPL
Shoaib Akhtar heaps praise on Indian captain Virat Kohli
While talking about Virat Kohli in same interview, Shoaib Akhtar only had words of praise for current Indian skipper. He said that both of m were ‘Punjabis with a big heart’ and he would have relished an on-field rivalry against arguably best batsman in modern cricket. Akhtar added "We are both Punjabis with a big heart. We would have been best of friends off-field and fierce enemies on-field. With Virat if you fight, he gets more focused. So to bowl him out, I would try to get him to lose focus. I would try to get into his head. At my extreme pace, I would have instigated him to pull me or play a cut because he doesn't have se two shots. I kw he loves to drive, so again at my extreme pace, I would get him to drive and would have kept talking to him in between. Something like what (James) Anderson did to him in England."
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Shoaib Akhtar offers his condolences to victims of PIA plane crash
18:13 IST, May 26th 2020