"Even South Africa will be scared" - Shoaib Akhtar backs India to clinch 2024 T20 World Cup title
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar picked India to win the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa and pointed to their demolition of England in the semifinal as the reason for the Proteas to fear Rohit Sharma's Men. Both teams come into the grand finale to be played in Barbados on Saturday, June 29, unbeaten thus far in the tournament.
While India crushed defending champions England by a massive 68 runs in their semifinal, South Africa enjoyed a similar outing against Afghanistan. The Proteas bowled the Afghans out for a paltry 56 and won with over 11 overs.
Talking about the summit clash on his YouTube channel, Akhtar said:
"I think India deserves it and many congratulations to India. This is what I have been saying for the longest period of time that they should have won the last two World Cups, and they should win this one as well. If South Africa win the toss, they should look to bat first. Then you still have a slight margin or else, they are playing their very first final, but after this performance, even South Africa will be scared. Who will score runs in front of these spinners? India should definitely win this one."
Team India holds a 4-2 edge over South Africa in T20 World Cups despite the African nation getting the better of Rohit Sharma's Men in their last T20 World Cup meeting in 2022.
"I wish Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma could open and send Virat Kohli to No. 3" - Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar felt Team India should have the out-of-form Virat Kohli drop to No. 3 and open the batting with Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma.
Kohli has endured a dismal 2024 T20 World Cup campaign opening the batting with 75 runs at an average of 10.71 and a strike rate of 100 in seven outings.
"I wish Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma could open and send Virat Kohli to No. 3. India's issues will be sorted if Kohli comes down to his natural and usual position. This is not his game, he likes to take time and hit loose balls, and then he improves his strike-rate. So I am not sure if Kohli is a natural opener, so he is kind of stuck and if Rishabh Pant comes to open, then the issue will be resolved," said Akhtar in the same video.
Kohli boasts an incredible record at No. 3 in T20Is, with an average of 53.96 and a strike rate of 135.26 in 80 innings.
However, Pant has opened only five times in his 73 T20I outings for India with a sub-par average of 14.20 and a strike rate of 136.53.