Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar is confident that India should clinch the World Cup title. In the recent match against New Zealand on October 22, Virat Kohli’s performance in the match against New Zealand earned massive praise from Akhtar. The former fast bowler commended Kohli for thriving under pressure and delivering match-winning knocks.
“He excels in high-pressure situations, where opportunities arise for him. These opportunities include scoring a century, delivering match-winning performances, and gaining followers on Instagram. And rightfully so! This guy truly deserves it,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
Akhtar emphasized India’s batting prowess, stating that players like Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul make the team formidable.
“Shubman Gill alone poses a significant challenge for the New Zealand team. Even if Rohit Sharma hadn’t been dismissed carelessly, he alone could handle it. If KL Rahul moves up the order to 3 or 4, he too is sufficient. India’s batting lineup is exceptionally deep,” he said.
“While Kohli’s performance today is well-known, Rahul also carried the burden. Suryakumar would have done the same if he hadn’t been dismissed,” he explained.
Akhtar further praised Mohammed Shami, who played a crucial role in restricting New Zealand.
“In preventing New Zealand from reaching 300-350 runs, Shami played a crucial role. Despite being a bit expensive, it’s acceptable because he took five wickets. He has showcased his talent, and India should stick with the same bowling attack. With a comprehensive batting and bowling lineup, there’s no reason India shouldn’t win the World Cup,” he concluded.
Looking ahead, India is set to face England on October 29 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.