Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar heaped praises on lower order of team India who outperformed in the 4th test vs Australia. Team India loses its aggressive lower-order players owing to player’s injuries.
India’s Jadeja, Ashwin, Vihari, and Bumrah were ruled out owing to injuries. Cricket experts suggest that team India would suffer a lot without its skipper Virat Kohli’s service. Team India then without an option left dragged T Natarajan, Thakur, Washington Sundar, Siraj, and Saini into the squad.
Australia set a target of 369 in the 1st innings. While chasing Indian batsmen struggled to face Australia’s aggressive blowing attack and walks to Pavillion soon. India loses it’s top 5 wickets while scoring 161 runs.
Scoring just half of the target while losing 5 wickets pushed India towards the struggle. In an unexpected way India’s Washington Sundar and Tharur scored 62 and 67 runs respectively and dragged India to score 336 runs for 10 wickets loss.
Shoaib Akhtar praises Team India
This unbelievable play of these two young guns catches the eyes of many senior players and experts. Especially Shoaib Akhtar praises that half of team India is far better than the full Australia squad.
“Most of their players are injured but this is the beauty of the Indian team that despite all the setbacks, they are playing with kids (referring to debutant T Natarajan and Washington Sundar, along with Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj) who never would have thought in their wildest of dream that they’ll have to play against Australia in such a scenario.
With Australia coming with full strength and India stopping their onslaught, I’d believe that this half Indian team is better than fully-fit Australia,” the former quick said on a video on his YouTube channel.
India lost Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari – all this after Virat Kohli had already returned to India after the first Test.
“With so many injuries, only two big-name players have left – Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane. Inexperienced Indian players are up against a ball of fire but they are making sure that Australia is being tested. Now imagine, if with this team, India can grab hold of this Test match, I would assume this would become India’s biggest Test series in history,” he said.
Despite such setbacks, India had bowled Australia out for 369 in the first innings, picking up the last five wickets for 95 runs. Debutants T Natarajan and Washington Sundar, and Shardul Thakur picked up three wickets each.
“You enter the final Test but you don’t have the team. And yet, they’re fighting. This is the character I’m talking about. I won’t call it a B team, but if with this they are able to strengthen their grip on the Test, and even if are able to draw, I’d believe it will be a historic moment. There’s a lot to be proud of,” Akhtar said.
