Mohammad Shahzad struggled to time the red ball in Afghanistan’s inaugural Test match. Shahzad played shots off the red ball as if it was a white ball. He was playing away from his body, getting outside edges and inside edges. The 30-year-old lacked patience as he tried hitting almost every ball. In the first innings, he got out trying to sneak a single inside the 30-yard circle. Hardik Pandya threw the ball in one quick motion and Shahzad was a few feet away from the crease.
But, getting run out was not the reason why Shahzad became the butt of jokes on Twitter, it was his comments on Indian skipper Virat Kohli a few months ago. To give you a little perspective, here’s what Shahzad said about Kohli in an interview with PTI:
“Dekhiye hum fitness bhi poori karte hain aur khaate bhi poora hain (I work a lot on my fitness but I don’t compromise on food). You want me to have a fitness routine like Kohli, it is not possible, but I am working on it (losing weight). Jitna lamba chakka woh (Kohli) maarte hain, main unse zyadaa maar saktaa hoon, zaroorat kya hain unki tarah itna diet karne ki (I can hit bigger sixes than Kohli so why do I need to follow his diet?),”
Shahzad got out twice in a single day while opening the batting for Afghanistan. He scored 14, 13 in first and second innings respectively. He was bound to face criticism for his fitness on Twitter –
Mohammad shahzad will now understand why fitness is so important..
— Ruchita (@ruchita_72) June 15, 2018
I can hit bigger sixes than Virat Kohli – MOHAMMAD SHAHZAD
Ya right u can anytime pic.twitter.com/JLgIH4AIwG— (@imvkohli05) June 15, 2018
Mohammad Shahzad:
Then – “Why to diet when you can hit bigger sixes than Virat Kohli?”
Probably now – “Why to diet when you can get run out faster than Virat Kohli?”#INDvAFG
— Jaanvi (@ThatCricketBuff) June 15, 2018
Few days back Mohammad Shahzad said he don’t need to be fit like @imVkohli as he can score more than fit with his tummy ..But Mohammad Shahzad looking today’s run out I think we got next Inzamam Ul haq..way to Got with your tummy #INDvAFG
— Mohnish Srivastava (@SunnyMohnish) June 15, 2018
This is exactly the reason why you need to be fit, Mohammad Shahzad. Even though you can hit sixes like Kohli or Dhoni. #INDvsAFG #RunoutAndVadapoche
— Srinidhi (@Srinidhi_PR) June 15, 2018
“I can hit bigger sixes than Virat Kohli then what is the need to follow his diet” – Mohammad Shahzad
And he gets run out in 4th over of Test match. This is why you need to follow diet bro. #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/CFdwyNrT6I
— Dhiraj Girase (@imDGirase) June 15, 2018
Hello #MohammadShahzad, sorry if you had followed Dhoni and Kohli’s diet you could have made it but you missed the crease by a long word call FITNESS ! #INDvAFG
— freeshead (@jnd583) June 15, 2018
Going overboard with comparisons
Why to diet like @imVkohli, when I can hit longer sixes than him! :
Mohammad ShahzadThe reason where diet and fitness play role! Golgappa of Afghanistan #INDvsAFG #HistoricTest @AsgharStanikzai
4.4 over@MohammadKaif : He too talked about this! pic.twitter.com/tWTGY7nNP7— Hitesh Sharma (@imhitesh1011) June 15, 2018
Die-hard Kohli fan spotted
Dear Mohammad Shahzad
You may hit long sixes than first but you can’t Run Faster than Virat
can’t field better than Virat
can’t drive better than Virat
can’t dive better than Virat
can’t play on the Onside better than Virat
can’t play a cover drive better than Virat#INDvAFG— Rahul (@ThatCricRahul) June 15, 2018
Even his Afghan teammate trolled him for the dismissal
Shazad run out lol #INDvAFG
— Gulbadin Naib (@GbNaib) June 15, 2018
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In the second innings, Umesh Yadav got his wicket. Shahzad edged the ball to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik trying to play the ball moving away from him. Maybe the next time Shahzad gives an interview he will be more careful.
