India vs Australia: “India exhibited their talent and character” – Shoaib Akhtar lauds India’s victory in Melbourne
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Shoaib Akhtar
India defeated Australia in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to level the 4-match series on Tuesday. Following the debacle in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval where they were dismissed for 36 in the second innings, the victory came as a morale-boosting one. What made the victory even more remarkable was the fact that India were without their ace players Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami.
It was the stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane who led from the front with a terrific century in the first innings. His field placements and bowling changes were spot-on as well and helped India race to a facile win on Day 4 of the Test match with a target of just 70 runs required. Both teams now have a rest of more than a week before the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
‘India showed heart and courage’ – Shoaib Akhtar
Former Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar who was critical of India’s performance in the first Test was all praise for them after the series-levelling victory. “Team India has beaten Australia like how you beat up a person in a sack. Characters are not made in crisis, they are exhibited. Team India has exhibited their talent when they were in deep crisis. This is team India’s character,” Shoaib Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
“The best part was that they showed heart and courage today. They didn’t have 3 of their star players but it didn’t matter to them. Ajinkya Rahane quietly led the team but his success is making all the noise for him today. They say work hard in silence and let your success make the noise,” he added.
Speaking about the two debutants for India – Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill, “India picked Siraj, he took 5 wickets. He is still young, couldn’t be by his father’s side when he passed away. He paid tribute to his father with his performance. Then came Gill, he’s certainly a big star in the making. So, Team India showed their character, that they have guts, heart and courage,” Akhtar said.
“What impressed me the most was they should have fallen flat on their face in this match after the kind of defeat they suffered in the 1st Test. But they didn’t. They rose up to the challenge. When teams show their character like this, it doesn’t matter which religion or country the players belong to, I feel very happy,” he signed off.
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