"Completely Unreal": Azharuddin Stunned by Sri Lanka's Historic Run Chase
Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin reacts to Sri Lanka's unbelievable chase of 430 against England and Harry Brook's record double century.
Former Indian captain and Telangana Cabinet Minister Mohammad Azharuddin has expressed his amazement at Sri Lanka's extraordinary victory over England, describing the act of chasing a 400-plus target as "completely unreal" in the context of modern cricket. Speaking to ANI, the cricket legend lauded the fighting spirit of the Sri Lankan side and the sheer entertainment value of the high-scoring encounter.
A Battle of Giants in Rawalpindi
The match, part of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026, witnessed a clash of monumental proportions. England had set a gargantuan target of 430 runs, finishing their innings at 429/4. The centerpiece of this massive total was a historic performance by Harry Brook, who became the first English batter to smash a double century in men's ODI cricket.
Brook's innings was a masterclass in aggression, as he hammered 202 runs off just 116 deliveries—the fastest double century in the history of ODI cricket. His onslaught included 21 boundaries and 10 towering sixes. He was well-supported by Joe Root, who contributed 69 runs off 66 balls, and Will Jacks, who provided a blistering finish with an unbeaten 66 off a mere 30 balls.
Sri Lanka's Historic Fightback
Despite the daunting target, Sri Lanka refused to surrender. While the chase began on a shaky note with the early loss of two wickets, the team displayed immense resilience. A pivotal partnership between Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake turned the tide of the match.
Fernando came agonizingly close to a century, scoring a brilliant 97 off 83 balls, as Sri Lanka eventually gunned down the 430-run target to script one of the greatest victories in limited-overs history. This achievement marks the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, trailing only South Africa's legendary pursuit of 435 against Australia in Johannesburg back in 2006.
Azharuddin's Perspective on the Game
Reflecting on the match, Mohammad Azharuddin emphasized that the victory was a triumph of hope.
"To me, 400 seems completely unreal, but nowadays cricket has become like this. But I congratulate the Sri Lankan team very much because they kept hope that we too can win... Otherwise, if you give up hope, then such a score isn't made,"he stated.
While praising the spectacle and congratulating Harry Brook for his outstanding feat, Azharuddin also used the occasion to advocate for the longevity of the game's oldest format. He stressed that while aggressive batting in white-ball cricket is exciting, Test cricket remains the "main format" and must continue to be promoted and encouraged.
Kudos to Team India
Beyond the Tri-Series, the former India captain also took a moment to congratulate the Indian national team for their recent success against New Zealand in the first T20I. He praised the players for their strong performance in overseas conditions and expressed his optimism that India would secure victories in both the T20 and ODI series on New Zealand soil.