'I think Rohit Feels The Panic...,' Shoaib Akhtar Makes Bold Statements On Rohit-Kohli
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Indian colours (BCCI)
Indian team, under Rohit Sharma, will start out as one of the favourites to win the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. However, apart from the favourites-tag, the 'Men in Blue' will also enter the tournament with the baggage of exceedingly high expectations from fans and through crowd support.
Considering no Indian team has won an ICC title since 2013, passionate fans from the cricket-crazy country will be hoping that Sharma’s troops end their decade-long trophy drought.
Apparently, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar believes that the current Indian skipper often tends to panic in match situations and lets the pressure get to him.
Akhtar wonders if Sharma should have accepted captaincy
Shoaib Akhtar recently stated that the responsibility of a captain is to protect his teammates and soak in all the pressure himself. The legendary pacer hailed former Indian captain MS Dhoni for possessing these attributes and helping the Indian team to win three ICC World titles during his reign as skipper.
"Important point is you had someone who could soak in all the pressure, and protect his teammates. He would not let his teammates feel the pressure, and that was the best thing about MS Dhoni. You won the 2007 World T20 under him, the 2011 World Cup and then the 2013 Champions Trophy. The moment Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south for India."
The former cricketer also questioned current Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, and even his predecessor Virat Kohli for not being able to win a single major tournament.
“When I see Rohit, I keep asking this question of myself if he should have accepted captaincy in the first place? I think Rohit feels the panic on occasions and lets pressure get to him. The pressure of captaincy cripples you, and it happened with Virat Kohli also. That's why you don't win a major tournament.”
Akhtar does believe that Sharma can win the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, because he has the team that can win the tournament. The Pakistan legend also praised the opener’s batting attributes, claiming that the veteran Indian might well be more talented than Virat Kohli with the willow.
Batting aside, the ex-speedster added that he would not mind being proven wrong by Sharma’s captaincy, as the entire Indian pantheon wants him to win the World Cup at home.
"Make no mistake, Rohit does have the team to win the World Cup. As a batter, he is perhaps more talented than Virat Kohli also. He is a classical batsman and the kind of shots he plays, it is just mind-blowing. But with captaincy, is he being able to do that? Let him prove me wrong and all of us wrong, for that's what all of India will want him to do in this World Cup."
A month before the World Cup 2023, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be seen gracing the Indian jersey in Sri Lanka for the ODI Asia Cup 2023. Team India will commence their campaign with a clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy.
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