India Tour of Australia: ‘If their middle order doesn’t perform, I see them struggling,’ says Shoaib Akhtar

India Tour of Australia: ‘If their middle order doesn’t perform, I see them struggling,’ says Shoaib Akhtar

Akhtar 1

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane will lead India’s middle-order in Tests

The Indian team is all set to play a four-match away Test series against Australia, preceded by the limited-overs clashes. Virat Kohli’s men are currently practising in quarantine at Sydney before the tour that begins on November 27. India registered an unprecedented victory in the five-day cricket format last time they went Down Under in the captaincy of Kohli. 

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoiab Akhtar believes that the team India can repeat the historic moment this time as well. However, he said that that a lot will depend on their middle-order batsmen. He also stated that the Day/Night Test would be the most challenging affair for Virat Kohli and co.

“In my opinion, India has the ability to win again. But if their middle order doesn’t perform, I see them struggling. People will be watching this series with great interest, including myself,” Akhtar told news agency PTI.

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“The day-night Test will be their toughest clash. If India plays well in those conditions, then you never know. The first two innings of the first Test will tell us where the series is headed.” Akhtar said.

“It takes two-three innings to control that forward trigger movement in foreign conditions. You can’t drive on the up and have to play close to the body,” he said.

‘Virat should think about giving captaincy to Rohit’

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

The former speedster also reckoned that Virat Kohli should now think about handing over the captaincy to Rohit Sharma in at least one format. 

“My take on it is pretty simple. From what I know Virat is very keen to take the team forward. It all depends on how fatigued he is feeling. He has been playing non-stop since 2010, has got 70 centuries and a mountain of runs under his belt,” he said.

“If he is feeling fatigued, then he should think about giving the leadership role to Rohit is one of the formats (preferably T20s). Rohit Sharma has been ready for captaincy for a while,” Akhtar signed off.

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