Pakistan vice-captain and leg-spinner Shadab Khan has lauded Indian skipper Rohit Sharma as the most challenging batsman to bowl to, expressing admiration for Sharma’s prowess ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023.
Additionally, Shadab singled out Kuldeep Yadav, recognizing him as the most formidable among the Indian bowlers, given his outstanding recent form and the title of Player of the Tournament in the Asia Cup.
In a recent statement, Shadab Khan shared his perspective on Rohit Sharma.
“Among the top batters in the world, Rohit Sharma is the most challenging to bowl at, and I have a lot of admiration for him. Once he settles in, he poses a serious threat. Kuldeep Yadav will be one of the bowlers since I am a leg-spinner considering his recent performance,” he said.
Reflecting on his recent performance during the Super 4s stage of the 2023 Asia Cup against India, Shadab Khan acknowledged his poor outing. He took only one wicket while conceding 71 runs in 10 overs.
With the bat, he contributed minimally, scoring only 6 runs. Despite this, Shadab remains optimistic about learning from these experiences. He emphasizes the mental aspect of the game as crucial in high-pressure situations like the World Cup.
Following Pakistan’s inability to defend a 346-run target against New Zealand, questions arose regarding their bowling lineup. Shadab Khan refrained from bowling in a warm-up match and had a lackluster run in the Asia Cup.
With the upcoming warm-up clash against Australia on October 3, Shadab’s form becomes pivotal for Pakistan. The 24-year-old openly acknowledged his struggles in the Asia Cup, where he picked four of his six wickets against Nepal.
“The Asia Cup wasn’t successful, but that’s the beauty of cricket. You can always improve by learning from your mistakes and playing well. It’s no longer a skill game, but a mental game, and it’s the World Cup situation. When your mind is at ease, you can make wise decisions,” he added.
Pakistan will kick off their World Cup campaign on October 6 against the Netherlands, and Shadab Khan aims to play a crucial role in their pursuit of success.