Wasim Akram feels that Rohit Sharma is the right man to lead in the upcoming ODI World Cup after their Asia Cup 2023 triumph.
Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Indian men’s cricket team, has proven his leadership skills in limited-overs cricket, particularly during the Asia Cup. In the 2023 Asia Cup, Rohit led India to victory, making him the third Indian skipper to win more than one Asia Cup trophy, joining the ranks of Dhoni and Azharuddin. His captaincy record during the tournament was impressive, with India securing a place in the final after defeating Sri Lanka by 41 runs.
Asia Cup 2023 final: Scorecard | Highlights
Rohit’s batting performance during the Asia Cup was equally commendable. He scored three consecutive half-centuries in the tournament, showcasing his batting prowess. In five matches, he accumulated 194 runs at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 107.78. During the Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka, Rohit broke several records, including becoming the fastest opening batter to reach 8,000 runs in ODI cricket and the second fastest to reach 10,000 runs in ODIs. He also set a new record for the most sixes (28) in the ODI Asia Cup, surpassing the previous record held by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi.
In the final match of the Asia Cup 2023, Rohit achieved another milestone by completing 450 matches as an international cricketer. This achievement placed him among the ranks of Indian cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. His remarkable performance throughout the tournament not only led India to victory but also solidified his place among the greatest cricketers of his generation.
Speaking to Star Sports after the game, Akram said he likes the fact that Rohit as a skipper is very calm on the field. The Pakistan legend went on to say that the opener was the right man to lead the side in the World Cup and called India’s squad ‘the best batch’ in world cricket at the moment.
“What I like about him as a skipper is that he is very calm on the field.”
“In general, he’s a very experienced cricketer. He’s been playing cricket for so many years and he’s the right man to lead India to the World Cup with a super talented side, with one of the most experienced, talented and, in fact, the best batch in world cricket.”
“With 13,000 man, Virat Kohli there is there to support his team with youngsters like Ishan Kishan. KL Rahul came back well, so everything is going in the right direction before the World Cup for India team,” said Akram.
