World Cup 2023: Shoaib Malik Reflects On Pakistan’s Batting Performance Against Kuldeep Yadav

Pakistan veteran Shoaib Malik recently stated that Pakistan batters need to let go of fears when they face spin bowling. On Saturday, Pakistan lost to India by seven wickets in the World Cup 2023 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Pak batters toiled quite a bit against Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, who both picked up two wickets apiece. Even as Jadeja got the wickets of Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf, Kuldeep dismissed Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed in the same over.

Malik was clear cut in saying that the Pakistan batters need to manufacture shots of good balls rather than waiting for loose deliveries to pounce on.

“Kuldeep Yadav bowled at an average speed of around 84 in his first eight overs. But when he picked wickets in his last two overs, his pace dropped to 82. There is only one way to play a spinner. Until and unless a spinner gets scared, you cannot do anything,” Malik was quoted as saying on ARY Sports.

“The difference was that the intent of the other batters was good. They looked to score runs against spin. We score runs when the ball is full or short, but we do not do anything on our own. Quality spinners do not let you score runs easily. Our batters have skills, but we need to be open-hearted,” he stated.

“The fear of getting out, the fear of getting stumped on stepping out, needs to go. Once you keep the team goals ahead, the same players will charge down to spinners and hit shots,” Malik added.

In the highly anticipated World Cup 2023 clash, the Indian bowlers dominated the game and Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed. The Babar Azam-led squad was going well till 30 overs, but pacer Mohammed Siraj ended the big partnership between Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan.

Mohammed Siraj provided team India with a breakthrough in crucial overs as he dismissed Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed to put Pakistan batters under pressure and then Jasprit Bumrah clinched Muhammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan’s wicket.  The batting lineup crippled and the Indian bowlers bundled them for a low score of 191 runs.

On the other hand Team India started the 192-run chase on a strong note as opener Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill smashed boundaries in quick succession. Shaheen Afridi dismissed Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, Hasan Ali dismissed Virat Kohli  Shreyas Iyer finished the proceedings in style with a boundary which also brought up his half-century.

India have won three matches in a row and will face Bangladesh in their next match on October 19. Pakistan will be looking to bounce back when they lock horns with Australia on October 20.