India's captain Rohit Sharma faced familiar troubles with Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who clean-bowled him with a stunning yorker during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. The match, steeped in historical rivalry, saw India chasing down a target of 242 runs against their fiercest opponents.
Rohit started solidly, scoring 20 runs off 15 balls, including three boundaries and one six, before falling to Afridi's expert delivery. This dismissal occurred during the fifth over of India's innings, just when it seemed Sharma was ready to shift gears and lead his side toward the target. Afridi's yorker was not just any delivery; it came after he had been hit for four runs by Rohit just the ball before. The inswinging yorker was perfectly executed, gliding through the tiny gap between Rohit’s bat and pads to crash onto the stumps.
"The ball snuck through Rohit’s bat and pads and crashed onto the stumps," noted one report summarizing the brilliant bowling display. This is not the first time Afridi has dismissed Rohit; astonishingly, this marks the sixth time Rohit has fallen prey to Afridi across their international encounters, indicating the bowler's mastery over him.
Reflecting on their previous meetings, the 2021 T20 World Cup immediately springs to mind, where Rohit was dismissed for a golden duck by Afridi. That match ended with Pakistan celebrating a historic 10-wicket victory, showcasing Afridi's ability to unsettle the Indian opener early on. Rohit has consistently struggled against Afridi, averaging just 17.7 runs against him in ODIs and even lower, at 6, in T20Is.
The stakes of this clash were high for both teams. Pakistan, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, set the stage with 241 runs. Saud Shakeel's 62 runs and contributions from Mohammad Rizwan and Khushdil Shah were key to their score. The Pakistani innings had its peaks, including the partnership between Shakeel and Rizwan, which added 104 runs for the third wicket, yet they lost wickets at regular intervals, putting pressure on their batting line-up.
India's bowlers, particularly Kuldeep Yadav, who took 3 wickets for 40 runs, and Hardik Pandya, with 2 for 31, effectively restricted Pakistan as they faced difficulties maintaining momentum throughout their batting innings. The sequence of dismissals troubled their run-making, especially after the early loss of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, keeping the match competitive.
When it came to India's chase, the early dismissal of Rohit could have set them back, but there was positivity on the other end as Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied the ship. Gill, batting aggressively, replaced Rohit’s somewhat frenetic start. Rohit’s initial flair and knack for boundaries had been promising, hitting Afridi for four before his dismissal, showcasing the talent and potential India has at the top of the order.
Post the match, discussions surrounded whether Rohit’s late-career form was impacting his reactions and decisions at the crease. While many commended his recent return to form, the question loomed large on whether age was affecting his ability to cope with fiery deliveries such as Afridi's.
Certainly, Afridi's dismissal of Rohit echoed throughout the cricketing community, reminiscing about the days of intense rivalry between these two cricketing giants. "Has India skipper Rohit Sharma become slow in reacting to the ball with age or is it just form?" one pundit questioned, emphasizing the scrutiny on the captain amid significant pressure.
This incredible performance by Shaheen Afridi was more than just another wicket—it was symbolic of his growing legacy and capability to deliver under pressure against one of the biggest teams on the world stage. The rivalry continues and with it, the unpredictability of cricket, where moments like this can sway the tide emphatically.
With the chances of Pakistan's tournament life hanging by this match, Afridi's capability to deliver such moments speaks volumes of his talent and importance to the team. Indian supporters will remain hopeful of overcoming the setback of Rohit’s wicket and continuing their pursuit of victory, with Gill and Kohli having the responsibility to guide India to the finish line.