'Ye Khala Ji ka Ghar Nahi Hai': Shoaib Akhtar 'Blasts' India Ahead of Asia Cup Final
Asia Cup 2023 match between Bangladesh and India [AP]
Former Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar weighed in on India's recent loss to Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2023, branding it a much-needed "wake-up call" for the Indian team. The defeat came in the final Super 4 match of the tournament in Colombo, just days before India faces Sri Lanka in the championship showdown on Sunday.
India, who had looked invincible throughout the Asia cup 2023, faced a surprising setback against Bangladesh in their last Super 4 match, which took place at the Colombo ground. Despite resting key players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj, the Men in Blue were expected to dominate. However, Bangladesh had other plans.
Shoaib Akhtar's Take on India's Loss
"We were not expecting that India would lose to a team like Bangladesh, but they did. It was an embarrassing defeat," remarked Shoaib Akhtar. He went on to draw a parallel with Pakistan's exit from the tournament, stating, "Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka. They are out of the Asia Cup, which is an even bigger embarrassment. India are still in the final. All is not lost for them."
Akhtar, who is never short of cricketing metaphors, emphasized the importance of learning from setbacks:
"It was a great wake-up call for them to come back harder and make sure they secure victory in the finals, but that will only happen if they play really well. Ye khala ji ka ghar nahi hai jaha pe India jake araam se jeet lega. Nothing of that sort is going to happen. It's going to be a tough game."
The match against Bangladesh saw Shubman Gill emerge as the beacon of hope for India. While wickets continued to tumble at the other end, Gill stood firm, registering his fifth ODI century as the match went down to the wire.
With the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka just around the corner, the cricketing world is eagerly awaiting the clash between these two cricketing powerhouses. India, undeniably shaken by their loss to Bangladesh, will be looking to regain their dominance and lift the coveted trophy.
But it's not just the Asia Cup that's on India's radar. After the final on September 17, they will face Australia in a three-match ODI series. This series is crucial for India as it serves as a build-up to the World Cup 2023, which kicks off next month on October 5.
As Shoaib Akhtar aptly put it, "Heading into the World Cup, it could be anybody's game. India need to wake up. They lost to Bangladesh."
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