Shoaib Akhtar Turns 49: Times the Legendary Pakistan Pacer Praised Indian Cricketers

Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar is credited for setting a benchmark in fast bowling. Known as The Rawalpindi Express, Akhtar troubled world-class batters with his deadly pace and accuracy in his heyday. He was the first bowler to clock 100 miles per hour in international cricket. The legendary pacer achieved the historic feat during an ODI match against New Zealand in 2002.

While Akhtar enjoyed a sensational run in international cricket, the right-arm pacer appeared to be in lethal form whenever he faced the Indian cricket team.

Despite the on-field rivalry, Shoaib Akhtar has always been positive about Indian cricket. There are several instances where Akhtar has showered praises on present-generation stars like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Today, on his 49th birthday, let’s take a look back at the times when the Pakistan great showed his support for Indian cricketers.

“I want to see the God of cricket…”

Earlier in December 2022, Shoaib Akhtar reminisced about his first face-off against Sachin Tendulkar during a chat with the ‘Vaughny and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast’. When asked about the most prized wicket of his career, Akhtar said, “My claim to fame came when I bowled Sachin Tendulkar off the first ball.”

Shoaib Akhtar also spoke about meeting Tendulkar ahead of the Test match in Kolkata. “I went up to many Indian cricketers and said ‘I want to see the God of cricket.’ They said– ‘Don’t you know him?’ I said– ‘No, I want to see him because I want to bowl him out off the first ball’. I went up to him, looked at him, checked him out and said ‘Brother, you have no chance against me’,” Akhtar recalled.

“Virat Kohli looks for pressure situation”

Shoaib Akhtar was impressed by Virat Kohli, who played a memorable knock in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados in June this year. After the other top-order batters returned early to the pavilion, Kohli added 79 runs to the scoresheet, helping India produce a defendable total in the first innings.

India ultimately defeated South Africa by seven runs to secure the ICC title. About Kohli’s heroics in the big match, Shoaib Akhtar said on a talk show, “Virat Kohli looks for pressure situations to perform and become a superstar.”

“Rohit ne kya fainti lagayi Mitchell Starc ki…”

Team India avenged their 2023 ODI World Cup final loss to Australia in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup this year. Rohit Sharma was the star of the match as the Indian captain scored a blazing 92 off 41 balls. The top moment of his knock came when Rohit smashed four sixes and a four in an over bowled by Mitchell Starc.

About Rohit Sharma’s power-packed batting, Shoaib Akhtar said, “Rohit Sharma did what he should have done, played with such intent. Rohit ne kya fainti lagayi hai Mitchell Starc ki, [Rohit no doubt annihilated Starc]. My heart wanted Rohit Sharma to score 150 today.”

“Dhoni is faster than a computer”

Shoaib Akhtar once shed light on the greatness of MS Dhoni, underlining the former India captain’s understanding of the game. Ahead of India’s first match in the 2019 ODI World Cup, Akhtar said on his YouTube channel as per multiple media outlets, “Dhoni is faster than a computer. Whatever a computer can say about playing on a certain wicket, I believe that MS Dhoni can do it faster.”