The left-arm seamer has been India’s biggest Achilles heel for quite some time now. It came into prominence in the Champions Trophy final, 2017. The problem has persisted ever since. Indian cricket for all its riches has failed to overcome this bugbear. Their superstar batters have no answers to left-arm swing and seam bowling. This single factor has negated India’s quest for an ICC Trophy. Here in this article, we talk about Left-Arm Seamers Destroyed India.
We look at 5 such times when Left-Arm Seamers Destroyed India:
#5 Mustafizur Rahman
It is a popular saying in cricket that the best nation to make your debut against is India. Debutant players often excel when they come up against the Indian team. It was no different with Mustafizur Rahman. The tall lanky pacer made his ODI debut against India in a 3-match home series. He picked up 11 wickets in 2 games with a fiver in both the matches. Rahman singlehandedly helped Bangladesh win their maiden series against India.
#4 Trent Boult
The left-arm pacer from New Zealand has been a constant thorn in India’s flesh. He made the most impact on the two most important games India played in two different World Cups. Boult removed Virat Kohli in the 2019 ODI World Cup to stun the Indian supporters. He came back to haunt the Indians again in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Boult stifled Indian batters with his discipline. Indian batsmen limped to a score of 110 odd.
#3 Mohammad Amir
The genius of Mohammad Amir was there for everyone to see right since he made his debut as a teenager. Amir’s brilliance was on show in an Asia cup game where he reduced India to 8-3. Thanks to Virat Kohli, India chased down a paltry score of 84 else it would have led to embarrassment.
But India wasn’t lucky the second time around. Chasing a massive total in the Champions Trophy final in 2017, Amir blew away the famed Indian top-order of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli. Pakistan went on to win the game by 180 runs!
#2 Chaminda Vaas
He was the OG left-arm pacer who perennially troubled Indian batsmen. Chaminda Vaas was one of the finest left-arm seamers to have ever played the game. He turned on the beast mode in the Coca-Cola Cup Final in 2000. Vaas produced a spell for the ages dismissing India for their lowest ever total (54) in the ODIs. His figures at the end of the game read 9.3-1-14-5!
#1 Shaheen Shah Afridi
He is one name that Indian fans won’t be able to forget anytime soon. Shaheen Shah Afridi took centerstage in T20 World Cup 2021. He became a worldwide sensation in just a couple of overs. Afridi bowled unplayable deliveries to India’s openers in his new-ball burst. India could manage an under-par score of 150 odd from thereon. Pakistan romped home with a 10-wicket win. It was the left arm that proved to be India’s undoing for the umpteenth time.
