Former Shoaib Akhtar has termed India as the most dangerous side going into the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 after Men in Blue decimated Sri Lanka to win a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title Sunday.
While there were forecasts of thunderstorms in the evening, India finished the match in a jiffy by bowling out Sri Lanka for 50 in the first innings and completed the chase in 6.1 overs to secure a 10-wicket win.
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Mohammed Siraj was India’s star player as he took six wickets for 21 in seven overs including four in a single over. Hardik Pandya took three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah took one as all 10 wickets fell to Indian pacers.
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With the Asia Cup 2023 title India have broken their five-year-long multi-national trophy drought. The last time India won a multi-national trophy was at the 2018 Asia Cup.
Akhtar was full of praise for India after their title victory and also hailed captain Rohit Sharma for his “great man-management”.
“For the last one-and-half to two years, he was a bit lost, but now he is present and doing great man-management. He is making good decisions. He has got Kuldeep Yadav into the team at the right time,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
“India have announced their arrival at the World Cup. They can be the most dangerous side in the World Cup. India have a formidable team – good pace and spin attack. They have ticked all the boxes.”
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Akhtar also underlined the way India improved as a team as the tournament progressed.
“India, hats off to you, you have done a wonderful job. It seemed they would be underdogs after the first game (against Pakistan) but they have done really well,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi credited India’s pace attack for their Asia Cup 2023 title win.
“It looked like a proper Test attack in English conditions. I thoroughly enjoyed watching both Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah bowl. They didn’t try anything fancy; hit the right areas,” he said on Samaa TV.
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