Shoaib Akhtar on India’s chances of lifting the ICC World Cup 2023:
India‘s campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is on an unbeaten run so far, as the hosts have won all five games they have played. In their recent encounter, the Men in Blue handed a four-wicket defeat to New Zealand at Dharamshala on Sunday, October 22. The humble loss marked the end of Blackcaps’ undefeated campaign in the ongoing tournament.
In a comprehensive evaluation of India’s win over New Zealand, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has provided an expert perspective on the factors driving India’s success in the tournament. Akhtar has emphasized the diverse elements steering the Indian team towards the highly coveted trophy, recognizing their skill as a pivotal point in their quest for cricketing excellence.
Shoaib Akhtar’s praise for Virat Kohli
Shoaib Akhtar praised Virat Kohli‘s sensational knock of 95 runs vs New Zealand and his ability to excel under pressure, noting that the handed-batter not only seizes opportunities to score centuries but also gains a significant following on platforms like Instagram, attributing it to his deserving stature in the cricketing world.
“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,” Shoaib said on his YouTube channel.
Calculating India’s triumph
Shoaib even expressed confidence in India’s World Cup prospects, affirming that the team possesses a well-rounded bowling attack and complete batting unit. He also commended India’s strong fielding capabilities. Considering these factors and the advantage of playing on home soil, the Rawalpindi-born cricketer firmly stated that he sees no reason why India should not win this World Cup.
“Ek bowler missing the aPka wo poora ho gya..Now, they have a complete bowling attack and now they have a complete batting unit, and plus you’re a good fielding side now you’re playing at the home ground you’re playing in India. I see there is no way that India should not be winning this World Cup,” the 48-year-old added.
India World Cup 2023 Squad:
IND Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul(wk), Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
Conclusion:
India, the hot favorite for the trophy, is unbeaten in the tournament so far. They have been winning, triumphing over their opponents with consistent performances. Their batting lineup, led by the explosive Rohit Sharma and the steady Virat Kohli, has been in top-notch form, consistently scoring big runs and providing solid foundations for their team. India’s bowling attack is equally lethal, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who have been terrorizing opposition batters with their sheer pace.
