"This is your World Cup now" - Shoaib Akhtar wants India to win the T20 World Cup 2024 after a thumping win over Australia
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar is convinced that India are firm favorites to win the ongoing T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue sealed the top spot in their Super Eight group by beating Australia by 24 runs in St. Lucia and will play their semi-final against England on Thursday (June 27).
Akhtar feels India also deserved to win the 2023 World Cup and felt sad for Rohit Sharma for not being able to lift that trophy. However, he feels the veteran opener deserves to lift the T20 World Cup and is hopeful that the trophy comes back to the subcontinent.
In a video on his YouTube channel, here's what Shoaib Akhtar had to say:
"Well done India, this is your World Cup now. You should win this and the World Cup should stay in the subcontinent. You should have won the previous too and this too. You deserve it one hundred percent. My support is with you. Rohit's intent is good and his conscience is clear. He deserves to lift the trophy."
Rohit Sharma scored a fantastic 92 off just 41 balls and blew away the Australian bowling attack. He became the first Indian men's captain to win a Player of the Match award in a T20 World Cup match.
India's depression turned into obsession: Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar claimed that India were determined to do well against Australia due to the heartbreaking defeat they had suffered in the ODI World Cup final last year. He was thrilled to see how the Men in Blue took the game to the Aussies and made them surrender.
On this, Akhtar stated:
"What a comprehensive win for India. They had been going through depression after they lost a World Cup that they should have won. They had lost to Australia in the final and that depression turned into obsession. They wanted to hit back at Australia."
Travis Head's valiant 76 was in vain as Australia could only get to 181/7 while chasing India's target of 206. They will not play any further part in the tournament as Afghanistan have qualified from Super Eight Group 1 into the semi-finals after beating Bangladesh by eight runs in a thrilling contest.