Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar called out Team India for being too unsettled over the last two years days after they announced their squad for the ODI World Cup 2023. Speaking at an event hosted by Star Sports, Akhtar wants to see more from the leaders of the batting unit Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and not always rely on the youngsters in the squad.
“India has not been a settled squad for the past two years. It’s just a very strange thing for me because you don’t know who has to settle where. But having said that, you know, I’m all for Rohit. I’m all for Virat Kohli. I’m all for all those players, but every day you have to perform because you’ve got a name," said Shoaib Akhtar.
You have to be out there, you have to take command, to do things so that we don’t leave it to the youngsters. These are big names, Rohit and Virat Kohli are huge names, so they will have to perform. So, the bowling squad looks unsettled, the batting squad looks unsettled," he added.
The former fast bowler also touched upon the injury concerns plaguing the Indian team. Stars like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah have faced intermittent injuries, leading to frequent changes in the team composition.
“India has not been a settled squad for the past two years. It’s just a very strange thing for me because you don’t know who has to settle where. But having said that, you know, I’m all for Rohit. I’m all for Virat Kohli. I’m all for all those players, but every day you have to perform because you’ve got a name," said Shoaib Akhtar.
You have to be out there, you have to take command, to do things so that we don’t leave it to the youngsters. These are big names, Rohit and Virat Kohli are huge names, so they will have to perform. So, the bowling squad looks unsettled, the batting squad looks unsettled," he added.
As India gears up for its Super Fours match against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 10 in Sri Lanka, the team dynamics and strategies will be under intense scrutiny. Matches between India vs Pakistan have always been high-voltage encounters, with every move and decision under the microscope.
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