Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden, who's current Pakistan batting consultant for the T20 World Cup 2021, feels pace was one of the main reasons for India's top order struggled against Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Hayden pointed out that Indian batters were mostly facing deliveries bowled at 130km/h in the IPL and Shaheen was much faster to trouble them. Shaheen dismissed India openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul with the new ball, and then captain Virat Kohli in the death overs.
"They (the Indian batters) had been facing 130km/h deliveries for the last month during the IPL. It's a different cup of tea when you are facing someone running and bowling at Shaheen Shah Afridi's pace," he told Fox Cricket.
Hayden lauded Shaheen for his courage to try out a yorker at pace in the first over of the match. Rohit had no answer to his inswinging delivery which trapped him in front of the stumps for an LBW dismissal.
“They were the best two balls that I've seen in five weeks. A fast in-swinging yorker and the courage that it takes to bowl that delivery against Rohit Sharma with the new ball is admirable,” he added.
The left-handed pacer then clean bowled Rahul with another sharp delivery coming into the batter from over-the-wicket. Hayden was in awe of Shaheen's both the deliveries.
“I don't think I have not seen the ball hitting Rahul's middle of the bat in five weeks and then he gets that delivery. That was like the two punch combination that sent India on the backfoot in the powerplay,” Hayden added.
Pakistan are currently dominating Group 2 in the Super 12 with two consecutive wins in the tournament. After India, they defeated New Zealand by five wickets.
(With Fox Cricket Inputs)
