Pakistan’s veteran speedster Shoiab Akhtar lauded the Indian team management and dressing room for supporting Mohammed Siraj during his tough phase and reckoned that it shows that India backs their players regardless of their caste, creed and color. Akhtar also hailed the stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane for beautifully leading the Indian side to victory at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The Rawalpindi Express was in awe of Team India’s comeback against Australia at MCG after a humiliating collapse of their batting line-up at a mere score of 36 in the first Test in Adelaide. Akhtar gave a major credit of India’s success to Rahane for his wonderful captaincy and a fierce fight with the willow despite the absence of key players like Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, and Mohammed Shami.

“Teams are not made on the field. Teams are made in dressing rooms. In order to regroup yourself, after getting hammered by Australia for 36. I think the dressing room has played a part in that. I saw Ajinkya Rahane fight. He fought with his bat. The fight was out there to see, between the bat and the ball. India didn’t have Virat Kohli, Ishant, Shami. This was half the team, by the way. Kohli is a team and a half anyways. So is Rohit,” Shoaib Akhtar said while speaking to Sports Today.

“Ajinkya Rahane made sure he was going to come out as a brand,” says Shoaib Akhtar

The debutant Mohammed Siraj showed great character and class at MCG as he ended up with five wickets across two innings and played a vital role in India’s victory by 8 wickets. Akhtar believes that Siraj could do well as he was fully supported by the team in the dressing room. The former Pakistan cricketer also asserted that the visiting nation has a chance of winning the series if they continue playing in the same way.

“Ajinkya Rahane made sure he was going to come out as a brand with the bat and the performances. His captaincy was also smart. His bowling changes, the way he used Bumrah, the way his Siraj. It was difficult for him after having lost his father. He got the support from his teammates.

“It shows the faith India has on their players in the dressing room, regardless of the caste, race and creed. It could have been the best moment for his father, but unfortunately he was not able to see that. That goes to show how the dressing room backed the player. Looking at the mood in the dressing room, I can say India can regroup and have a chance of winning the series,” Shoaib Akhtar concluded.