NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan pace sensation Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on the Indian cricket team, asserting that their comprehensive 70-run victory over New Zealand in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium has earned them a deserving place in the final.
India's opening duo, led by captain Rohit Sharma and young talent Shubman Gill, set a fiery tone against the Kiwi bowlers. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer's centuries further solidified India's grip on the game, culminating in a formidable total of 397/3.
Expressing his admiration for the Indian team, Shoaib Akhtar stated on his YouTube channel, "India thoroughly deserves to be in the final, if you look at their batting, bowling, fielding and even their bench strength, if this team doesn't deserve to reach the final then which team does?"
Akhtar specifically lauded Rohit's captaincy skills and the aggressive start he provided in the opening overs. He commended the team's collective batting effort, with special mentions for Gill and Iyer.
"India again brutally hammered New Zealand. All credit goes to Rohit Sharma as a captain. He hammers bowlers in the opening overs. If Gill stayed on the pitch, he could have completed his ton. Shreyas Iyer is an amazing talent; he is a guy who takes away a lot of pressure from the senior players. India deserves to be in the final."
Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami star as India reach World Cup final
Looking ahead to the final opponent, Akhtar backed Australia but highlighted South Africa's chance to turn the tide if they bat first and set a substantial total. "I feel Australia will reach the final; South Africa has only one chance to bat first and put up a total of 350 runs," remarked the Rawalpindi Express.
As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of the Australia vs. South Africa clash, India's stellar performance and all-round dominance have undoubtedly caught the attention and admiration of cricket pundits across borders.
(With inputs from ANI)The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment