Shaheen

Picture Credit: Twitter

24.10.2021 was that date when Pakistan changed history against India in a World Cup. The Men in Green registered their first World Cup win against their arch-rivals in the 13th attempt. But how did that become possible? How did a bunch of eleven guys manage to change decades-long history? Well, it was a plan that helped Babar Azam and Co. beat India in what happens to be the most-watched game in cricket.

There were three main characters in that win for Pakistan and Shaheen Afridi was inarguably the top one. The 21-year-old pacer was bang on right from the first ball he bowled. Afridi went on to take three wickets and was also named the Player of the match. He struck like lightning in his first over as he accounted for Rohit Sharma with a beautiful inswinging yorker. He came in the third over of India's innings to dismiss KL Rahul with an absolute jaffa. Afridi claimed the third wicket of the match in the 19th over of India's innings where he got the prized wicket of Virat Kohli with a slower one. But did all of this just happen, or Afridi had it planned?

In a recent interaction with Cricbuzz, the Pakistan speedster revealed that a lot of planning went into claiming all those three wickets. He revealed that Pakistan were well aware of the fact that the top three were the mainstays for India and they had to get them early. While talking about the plan to the openers, Afridi said that he was trying to pitch it up with swing on offer.

"Rohit, Rahul and Kohli are their mainstays and three of the best batsmen in the world. Kohli unki reedh ki haddi hai (Kohli is their spinal cord). And once you get them out, it gets difficult for the middle order. And if one of them bats deep, it gets easier for the batsman coming in later. Since I was getting some swing in that match - and the team anyway wants wickets from me early on - I was trying to pitch it up to Rohit and Rahul and I was able to get both of them out," said Afridi.

I admire Virat Kohli a lot: Shaheen 

The left-arm quick also talked about Kohli's dismissal and said that he knew that he could not bowl straighter to Kohli as the batter might have easily pulled and flicked him for runs. So, he went for a slower bouncer which worked to perfection and helped him get set Virat Kohli out. He also added that he admires Kohli a lot.

"The end I was bowling from, the leg-side boundary was smaller, say about 60-65 meter only. If I had bowled straight and fast at him [Virat Kohli], he would have flicked me or pulled me for runs. So I wanted to mix things up and bowl a slow bouncer at him, so that it would have been difficult for him to go leg-side. Luckily for me, the ball gripped and he got out. Aur mera time bhi accha thha. (laughs). I admire Virat Kohli a lot, he's one of the best around," said Shaheen Afridi.

Notably, Shaheen Afridi had a really great 2021. He was able to win a game for his country against India in a World Cup. And, recently, Afridi was named the ICC Cricketer of the year. He became the first Pakistan player and youngest cricketer ever to get the honour.