There is no stopping the Indian team in the ongoing World Cup 2023. After winning all of their five matches, the hosts find themselves at the top of the points table. They are the only unbeaten team in the competition so far and former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels India is like the runaway train which has no brakes.
India continued their winning march in the tournament as they defeated New Zealand by four wickets at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala on Sunday. Mohammed Shami, playing his first match of the tournament, returned with impressive figures of 5-54 to bundle out the Kiwis at 273.
Subsequently, the chase master Virat Kohli did what he does best as he scored a match-winning knock of 95 runs. Rohit Sharma (46) and Ravindra Jadeja (39*) played supporting roles to Kohli’s heroic innings.
There is no doubt that India has been a force to reckon with in the ongoing ODI showpiece and they have been the best team so far.
“India is like that runaway train that has its brakes failed. They are going that way,” said Akram on A Sports. “They have the weapons, have the merit, the skills and most importantly they know how to execute their plans.”
Shami was brought into the playing XI after Hardik Pandya suffered an ankle injury against Bangladesh. Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav was also added to the final XI whereas Shardul Thakur was dropped.
“They did one change according to the situation. Squads should be such, like India and New Zealand’s, that if anybody is injured or out of touch or you want to play someone according to opposition or pitch (then you have such resources available). Like India played Shami, Hardik was injured, they dropped Shardul (Thakur), SKY (Suryakumar Yadav) was brought in as a new batter. Then Shami got a wicket off the first ball of his spell,” said Akram.
Akram hailed India’s successful run-chase and said they looked in control despite losing wickets in the middle.
“Kya zabardast chase ki hai (what a phenomenal chase). No pressure. Wickets fell, but they looked smooth, looked in control. That’s a great sign for the Indian team and Indian cricket,” Wasim said.
India will next take on reigning champions England at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Sunday.
