A social media post by former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, intended to be humorous, has faced the ire of the online community after he trolled Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav following his sublime performance in the T20 international matchup against Australia. Akhtar’s post cited a purported exchange between former Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri and Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden, where Shastri lauded Yadav’s batting prowess and inquired about a method to halt his momentum. Hayden supposedly responded with a quip, suggesting that one should misinform Yadav that the format being played is One Day International (ODI), implying that his performance in that variant is less dominant.
The tweet from Akhtar read, “This was hilarious Haydos @RaviShastriOfc: ‘How do you stop Suryakumar Yadav when he is in this top form?’ @HaydosTweets: ‘Tell him it’s an ODI !!'”
The attempt at humor did not sit well with many internet users, who reaffirmed that professional conduct should be maintained and levity left to the fans. Some users demanded transparency regarding the authenticity of the conversation, expressing skepticism and insisting that without a reliable source, the veracity of Akhtar’s claim was questionable.
Away from the Twitter storm, Suryakumar Yadav’s breathtaking 42-ball 80-run spectacle and Rinku Singh’s critical supporting innings propelled India to achieve their highest chase in T20Is against a strong Australian team. Powered by Yadav’s nine boundaries and four maximums on his debut as India’s captain, the home side secured the win with a close finish, leaving two wickets in hand and just one ball remaining, thus establishing a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Expressing his elation over the victory, Yadav praised his team’s resilience and ability to return to form under pressure. On a personal note, he described his captaincy as a milestone and a point of pride, yet he acknowledged that it would take time for the significance of this achievement to fully register.
Instrumental to India’s thrilling chase was the notable third-wicket partnership of 112 runs between Yadav and Ishan Kishan, who delivered a swift 58 off 39 balls. This was especially crucial after India had lost both openers at a total score of 22.
The encounter occurred in the aftermath of Australia’s illustrious triumph in the ODI World Cup, marking their sixth such victory, which they secured in the final against the hosts, India. Despite this recent ODI success, the Australian team could not replicate their dominant form in the T20 face-off.
Their innings were bolstered by Josh Inglis’ impressive 110 runs from 50 balls – his first ton in international cricket – pushing Australia’s total to 208-3 after opting to bat first on a surface conducive to high scoring.
As reactions continue to pour in regarding Akhtar’s pointed jab at Yadav and the thrilling cricket on display, fans and analysts alike remain engaged with the unfolding narrative of this gripping series. Meanwhile, followers of the sport eagerly anticipate further updates on the World Cup 2023 and are reminded to stay tuned across social media platforms and dedicated cricket apps for continuous coverage and analysis.