Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal commended Rohit Sharma for his remarkable century in the third ODI against England at Lord’s. Akmal highlighted that Rohit’s 138-run innings silenced doubts about his future in the Indian team, emphasizing his prowess as one of the top ODI batsmen globally.
Akmal expressed that Rohit’s performance underscored the importance of evaluating players like Rohit and Virat Kohli based on their on-field achievements rather than external discussions. He emphasized that players of their caliber should have the autonomy to decide when to retire, acknowledging their immense contributions to Indian cricket over the years.
Reflecting on India’s bowling performance, Akmal noted that the team’s bowlers struggled to contain England, particularly due to the lack of control in the pace attack and the absence of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. He suggested that India missed out on the variety that Yadav could have provided, impacting their ability to restrict the opposition effectively.
Furthermore, Akmal pointed out that India’s inexperienced bowling unit faced challenges in closing out England’s innings, allowing the hosts to set a formidable total that ultimately influenced the match’s outcome. Despite India’s strong batting efforts, their inability to curtail England’s scoring in the final overs proved to be a significant factor in their defeat in the series decider.
