Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar is one of the fastest bowlers to play the sport. During his playing days and even after his retirement, Akhtar has always boasted his performance against India, mainly Sachin Tendulkar. Recently, Akhtar picked one Indian batsman who played against him easily.
Akhtar played against some of the greatest Indian batsmen. From the likes of Tendulkar to VVS Laxman to Rahul Dravid to Sourav Ganguly, the former pacer locked horns with some of the best in the business.
Akhtar picks one Indian batsman who played against him easily
However, Shoaib Akhtar picks Dravid as one Indian batsman who played against him easily. The former fast bowler revealed how they planned against Rahul Dravid to keep him out of the equation.
“If a batsman used to play, like Rahul Dravid, we would bowl him length balls. From close to the stump we would aim at the gap between bat and pad, try to hit the ball on the pad,” Shoaib Akhtar said in a chat with Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.
Furthermore, Shoaib Akhtar also revealed an interesting anecdote involving Rahul Dravid. The Pakistan legend revealed how he and Shahid Afridi planned to get the former India skipper out. However, Akhtar couldn’t recall the exact match but going by his explanation it looked the Pepsi Cup final in 1999.
“There was a final match in Bangalore, I had dismissed Sadagoppan Ramesh early, we took 3-4 wickets early. Sachin Tendulkar was not playing. Shahid Afridi and I said Rahul Dravid will take a lot of time and it’s Friday night today. Afridi said bowl something and take his wicket else he will play for long,” Shoaib Akhtar recalled.
“I hit him directly on the pad and urged the umpire to raise his fingers. I even said it’s our Friday night. He did not give the decision in our favour but we had won in the end. Dravid was a difficult and determined batsman. It was difficult for me as well as him. He would play against me easily,” he added.
