'India one of the hot favorites to clinch world T20 title', asserts Shahid Afridi

The former Pakistani skipper, Shahid Afridi feels that India are the frontrunners to win the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place down under this year. He called India’s performance in the T20I series in England “outstanding”, following their 49-run win in Edgbaston, Birmingham. For the unversed, India have clinched the series after taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

“India have played outstanding cricket and deserve to win the series. Really impressive bowling performance, they’ll surely be one of the favorites for the T20 World Cup in Australia,” Afridi wrote on Twitter.

Afridi also said that India deserved to win the series and that their bowling performance was impressive. The group stage of the T20 World Cup 2022 is set to commence on October 16, and India are in the same pool as Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa in Super 12.

India wrap up T20I series comprehensively with big win over England

India won the first T20I by 50 runs in Southampton on Thursday, courtesy of an all-round show by Hardik Pandya, who top-scored with 51 runs and also picked up four wickets in his four overs. India defended a target of 199 and bowled out the hosts for 148 in 19.3 overs. Debutant pacer Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets for 18 runs  in 3.3 overs, including a maiden over.

The likes Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were back in action for limited-overs for the second T20I. The Indian team  batted first again and put up a total of 170 with the help of Jadeja’s unbeaten 46 off 29 balls. England’s debutant Richard Gleeson impressed with figures of three wickets for 15 in four overs.

England fell short of their chase yet again, as they were bowled out for 121 in 17 overs. Moeen Ali top-scored for the Three Lions with 35 off 21 balls and David Willey contributed towards the end of the innings with an unbeaten 33 off 22 balls. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the Player of the Match for his bowling performance, picking up three wickets for 15 runs in three overs.