Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant team and India’s 8-wicket win over Australia in the Boxing Day Test have impressed Shoaib Akhtar, who was a fast-paced man in Pakistan. The legendary cricket praised the manner in which Rahane led the side in a difficult situation, claiming that the visiting Indian team is showcasing his class and character.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Akhtar said this success ‘makes all the noise’ for Rahane calm and he did.
“Team India has beaten Australia like you can beat a man in a sack. Characters are not made in a hurry, they are presented. Team India have showcased their talent during a time of deep crisis. This is the character of the Indian team, ”Shoaib Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
“The best part is that they showed heart and confidence today. They didn’t have three of the star players but it didn’t matter to them. Ajinkya Rahane quietly led the team but his success makes all the noise for him today. They say you work hard in silence and let your success make the sound, ”he said.
Indians made four major changes in the XI playing for the Boxing Day Test and handed debating caps to two youngsters – Shubman Gill and Mohammad Siraj.
Gill, who replaced Shaw at the top of the order, played fearlessly against a deadly Australian attack while Siraj ticked all the boxes and justified his pick by scalding 5 wickets in the game. Lamenting both the newcomers, Akhtar said they are definitely the two rising stars of an Indian cricket team.
“India built Siraj, it took 5 wikis. He is still young, he could not be by his father’s side when he died. He obeyed his father by fulfilling it. Then came Gill, he’s definitely a big star in the making. So, Team India showed their character, that they have guards, heart and courage, ”Akhtar added.
“What really impressed me was that they should have fallen flat on the face of it in this game after the kind of loss they suffered in the first test. But he didn’t. They rose to the challenge. When teams show the character like this, no matter what religion or country the players belong to, I feel very happy, ”he concluded.