Former Pakistan cricket star critiques India’s Champions Trophy win, highlighting accusations of scheduling bias while acknowledging India’s cricket prowess. The Indian team defeated New Zealand, with key performances from their bowlers and batsmen. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli praised the squad and the crowd, while New Zealand’s captain admitted India played better in the final contradicting earlier criticisms.
Former Pakistani cricket player has criticized India following their recent Champions Trophy victory. India emerged victorious against New Zealand by six wickets in the final, marking their second triumph in this tournament. The Indian spin bowlers, including Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, showcased exceptional skills, limiting New Zealand to a score of 251-7 despite a notable effort from Michael Bracewell, who contributed an unbeaten 53 runs.
In the match, India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill initiated a solid partnership of 105 runs before the team faced a minor setback, losing three wickets for just 17 runs. Nevertheless, India maintained a comfortable pace and secured the win with six wickets and six balls remaining. Since the 2023 World Cup final loss, India has won both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
India’s dominance in white-ball cricket has attracted some criticism suggesting bias during the Champions Trophy, largely due to the political tensions with Pakistan. All of India’s matches were held in Dubai, providing them with a consistent environment and no travel disruptions. This unique situation led to a strange occurrence where Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa engaged in travel logistics from Pakistan to Dubai for a potential semi-final, only to return home following the confirmation of teams.
Former bowler Junaid Khan voiced his concerns about scheduling discrepancies via a post on X, stating, “Some teams win by skill, some win by scheduling.” Conversely, legendary cricketer Shoaib Akhtar praised India’s accomplishments, indicating their exceptional cricket in ICC tournaments over the past decade, stating: “The best team to emerge in ICC tournaments in the last 10 years is India. They won last year and have won again. I think it goes to show the quality of cricket they are playing. Congratulations to India. Thoroughly deserved.”
Rohit Sharma, captain of the Indian team, acknowledged his teammates and the supportive Dubai crowd, which he described as “magnificent.” He expressed pride in their overall performance during the tournament. Additionally, star batsman Virat Kohli, who was absent in the final, commented on the young talent boosting Indian cricket’s future, stating that they are “stepping up in a massive way.”
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner accepted their loss, recognizing that the “better team” won, and acknowledged the challenges faced during the tournament. He remarked on the overall experience, emphasizing growth in their team despite falling short of expectations at the final.
In conclusion, India’s recent victory in the Champions Trophy has stirred both admiration and criticism. While India continues to establish dominance in international cricket, questions regarding fairness and scheduling have been raised. The contributions of key players and the supportive crowd were essential to India’s success. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s captain recognized India’s superiority on the day of the final, emphasizing sportsmanship amidst discussions about performance discrepancies.
Original Source: metro.co.uk
