Indian batsman Robin Uthappa has recently revealed an interesting yet unforgettable story from the India-Pakistan ODI series in 2007, featuring himself and former aggressive fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
Back in 2007, India hosted its arch-rivals Pakistan in a five-match ODI series and three-match Test series between 6 November and 12 December. The hosts thrashed the rivals in both series; winning the ODI series by 3–2 margin while the Test series by a 1–0 margin.
Uthappa recalled the incident from the first ODI that was won by India at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati by five wickets against Pakistan with the batsman hitting the winning runs for the hosts off one of the fierce speedsters of all-time Shoaib.
Uthappa told stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant on his YouTube channel 'Wake Up With Sorabh': “I'll share one story about Shoaib Akhtar. We were playing a game in Guwahati. And since it's in the east of India, it gets dark there early. Back then, we did not have two new balls. After 34 overs, we used to get a ball that used to be 24 overs old but slightly better. Shoaib was bowling and Irfan Pathan and I were batting. I think we needed 12 to win off 25 balls or something like that.”
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He continued, “I remember he bowled a yorker to me. I missed it from the arm and only saw it coming straight into the blockhole. I stopped the ball dead there. That was 154 something clicks. The next ball was a low full toss and I hit the ball for four. So after that, we needed 3 or 4 runs to win and I told myself, 'Man, I have to walk out to Shoaib Akhtar and hit him. How many times will I get that opportunity.' He bowled a length ball and I did it; it took the edge and it went for four. We won the match.”
Well, Pakistan managed to win the second ODI by 4 wickets to level the five-match ODI series before the Indian cricket team took the front seat by winning back to back games in the series to clinch the series 3-2 as the tourists won the final ODI by 31 runs in Jaipur.
Meanwhile, Uthappa recalled how he was confronted by Akhtar for hitting him for a boundary in the first ODI when the players from both teams were having dinner together.
He revealed, “I remember we all were having dinner together. I think we hung out at someone's room and having a meal. Shoaib Bhai was there as well. He came to me and said 'Robin… well played. Good game'.”
He signed off by saying, “And then he said 'One more thing… you walked out and hit me today. If you do that again, even I don't know what will happen… you might get a beamer directed at your head.' After that, I didn't even dare walk out to him.
