With the 20-20 World Cup beginning today, people are waiting for the epic clash between India and Pakistan to get underway next Sunday. The arch-rivals will face off on 23rd October at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ahead of the match, former Pakistan cricketer Aaqib Javed has made a big statement on Team India’s form heading into the World Cup.
Javed opined that Rohit Sharma’s men don’t look in the best form ahead of the 20-20 World Cup. He further explained the reasons why the Indian team isn’t looking in good form. He stated that the team’s batting has struggled and bowling in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t look good. He further compared Indian bowlers to Pakistan bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Harif Rauf and called the latter as impact bowlers.
“India ki halat jo hain na woh bhi kuch achi form main nahin hain. Unke batting bhi struggle kar rahe hain, aur Bumrah ke bager bowling waisi nahin hain ki aap soche ki…ki ek impact hota hai bowler ka jo Shaheen ka hai ya Haris ka hain. Yeh impact ka bara pressure hota hai, fark padta hain. Unke jo abhi bowlers hain woh aam medium pace bowlers hain,” he said to the media.
All the bowlers that India have are just medium pacers: Javed
(“India are not in a good form. Their batting has been struggling and bowling in absence of Jasprit Bumrah is not the same as someone may think that there’s an impact bowler like Shaheen or Haris. Impact players create a lot of pressure and this creates a difference. All the bowlers that India have are just medium pacers.”)
Javed, however, hailed Hardik Pandya and credited him as a game-changer. “Ha Pandya ek hain jo game kisi bhi waqt change kar sakta hain,” he said. (Yes, Pandya is the one who can anytime change the game.)
India suffered a huge blow earlier this month after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the 20-20 World Cup squad. Indian Cricket Board have now named Mohammed Shami as his replacement for the World Cup. Notably, Shami last played a T20I in the last year’s edition of the 20-20 World Cup.
India will play two warm-up games before the summit clash, the first against Australia on 17th October and the second against New Zealand on 19th.
