WATCH: Kohli & Men 'Hammered And Bullied' Australia In 'Battle Of Pride', Says Shoaib Akhtar

After a humiliating 10-wickets defeat in the first ODI, team India came back strongly in the final ODI, courtesy fluent batting performances from Rohit Sharma, Kohli and remarkable bowling from Shami, that powered India to a seven wicket win at Bengaluru

Photo: BCCI (Twitter)

New Delhi: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes Virat Kohli-led team India won the "battle of pride" by defeating Australia 2-1 in the three-match ODI series on Sunday. The former Pakistan paceman said team India "hammered and bullied" the visitors to attain a thumping win in the series decider. After a humiliating 10-wickets defeat in the first ODI, team India came back strongly in the final ODI, courtesy fluent batting performances from Rohit Sharma, Kohli and remarkable bowling from Shami, that powered India to a seven wicket win at Bengaluru. "Virat Kohli is an exceptional leader. He is very tough mentally. He knows how to mount comebacks. His boys know it as well. He doesn't give up after setbacks," said Akhtar on his Youtube channel. "Then if you have talents like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and K.L. Rahul, then you know that if you have got the opposition out for less than 300, that too in Bengaluru, then you forget about stopping that chase," he added. The former Pakistan speedster further said the current Indian team is a new one which plays fearless cricket who seem to have all their bases covered. "It was a battle of pride. This is a new Indian team, not like my playing days. To win the series after losing the 1st match so comprehensively was quite difficult. In Chinnaswamy, basically India bullied and hammered Australia; it was like playing with boys," said Akhtar. "When Rohit is on song, he doesn't care whether it's a good/bad ball. It comes very naturally to him. On pitches like Chinnaswamy, he becomes ruthless. Australia got a taste of their own medicine, like when they used to have a great team. Today, the tables are turned," said.