Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif is looking forward to the matchup between Virat Kohli and Shaheen Afridi during the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match between Pakistan and India on Monday.
The match is scheduled to complete on the reserve day, Monday, after it was called off on Sunday due to persistent rain.
"Overcoming challenges is one of Virat’s best qualities. That has become his habit. It’s a big match, and his record against Pakistan is great. Whenever he plays against Pakistan, his bat does the talking. And people have high expectations of him. People have expectations from someone who performs regularly,” Kaif said on Star Sports.
“For newer players, as it is a big game, the expectations are not as high. But if the senior players, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, if they fail, the fans don’t like it at all. There is no compromise on that; they have to perform with the bat and continue their form for the past two or three years and perform well at the World Cup also.”
Kaif also lauded Shaheen’s ability regarding inswing bowling.
“Shaheen will continue to bring the ball in, bowling his inswing. He has told himself that his game plan is very simple, bring the ball in and fast, whatever the batsman wants to do let him, his game plan is straightforward - bring the ball in, hit the pad, and hit the stumps. So it will be exciting to see Virat Kohli in the form he is in to take him on; it is the most key matchup of the game,” he said.
“What makes Virat special is his ability to play in the big matches, and he won't play on the back foot. Naseem Shah, Afridi, or Rauf, whoever is bowling, don’t play on the back foot. If you get the chance, even on the first ball, look for the boundary,” he concluded.
It must be noted that Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first against India in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match in Colombo.
When the match was stopped due to rain, India were 147/2 in 24.1 overs.
According to the playing conditions, the game will continue from this point on the reserve day with no overs lost.
