Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar heaped praise on the Indian team for their well-rounded performance in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 on their home soil. The Men in Blue has performed exceedingly well winning five out of five games so far in the tournament.
India’s journey in the cricket World Cup began with a bang, registering convincing wins against Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. These five wins have helped India to clinch the top spot in the standings, easing concerns over how the team would handle the added pressure of playing in front of the home crowd.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Shoaib Akhtar voiced confidence in India’s batting depth, praising Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma’s abilities in particular and praised Virat Kohli’s capacity to perform well in the marquee event and seize opportunities to perform for the team.
“He is someone who thrives under pressure. Pressure brings opportunities for him. And opportunities are scoring a hundred, playing match-winning knocks, and getting followed on Instagram, and why not? This guy deserves it.”
“Shubman Gill is enough for this New Zealand team. Had Rohit Sharma not gotten out casually, he would have been enough. If KL Rahul goes up the order to 3 or 4, even he is enough. India’s batting lineup is very lengthy.”
“Everyone knows what Kohli did today, but Rahul also took the load. Suryakumar had also done so had he not got out,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
Team India will be one of the favourites to win the World Championship in India, as they have a formidable unit to perform well in home conditions. The last time the ODI World Cup was played in Asia, India won the tournament by defeating Sri Lanka in the final on home soil in 2011.
India Have A Complete Batting And Bowling Lineup – Shoaib Akhtar
Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar praised Indian pacer Mohammed Shami for his impressive performance against New Zealand, which helped restrict them to a low score. Shami picked up a five-wicket haul in the match. Akhtar praised the Indian team for having a complete package to win the championship in their home conditions.
“But in ensuring that New Zealand doesn’t score 300-350, Shami played a big role. He was a bit expensive, but it’s okay since he dismissed five batters. He has shown his talent, and India needs to persist with the same bowling attack.”
“They have a complete batting and bowling lineup. There is no way that India should not be winning the World Cup,” Shoaib Akhtar added.
The Men in Blue are in great form as they head towards the business end of the tournament. They are set to face tough opponents such as England and South Africa in the remaining games of the event.
Rohit Sharma-led side has a chance to win their third ODI World Cup title, following in the footsteps of legendary players Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.
