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Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has thrown his support behind Rohit Sharma and backed India to claim the T20 World Cup 2024 title. India, along with South Africa, remains one of the two unbeaten teams in the tournament.
India has shown clinical performances throughout the tournament, notably in their last Super 8 match against Australia, where they convincingly defeated the ODI World Cup champions by 24 runs in St. Lucia.
Captain Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role in this victory with a spectacular innings of 92 runs off just 41 balls, smashing 7 fours and 8 sixes. With this innings, Rohit now holds the record for hitting the most sixes by an Indian in a T20 World Cup innings.
Following their impressive win over Australia, India secured their spot in the semi-finals by topping Group 1. However, they face a formidable challenge ahead against defending champions England at Providence Stadium, Guyana. This match sets up a rematch of the last edition’s semi-final, where England defeated India by 10 wickets in Adelaide.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Shoaib Akhtar expressed his desire to see Rohit Sharma lift the T20 World Cup 2024, praising India for their outstanding performances and endorsing them as his pick to win the championship.
“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,” Akhtar said.
Shoaib Akhtar, the famed Rawalpindi Express, was impressed by Rohit Sharma’s determination and publicly supported the Indian captain to clinch the T20 World Cup 2024 title. Akhtar emphasized Rohit’s admirable mindset and stated that he deserves to lift the trophy.
India’s journey to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final has been a mix of challenges and triumphs. They began with a convincing victory over Ireland but faced a tough battle against arch-rivals Pakistan, securing a narrow 6-run win with a strong bowling display.
Against the USA, India encountered resistance but relied on their seasoned experience to secure a crucial victory. Moving into the Super 8 stage, they displayed clinical prowess by comfortably defeating Afghanistan and Bangladesh with commanding performances from both their batsmen and bowlers.
A significant moment came when India eliminated Australia from semi-final contention with a comprehensive win. However, the upcoming semi-final and potentially the final pose the ultimate test for Rohit Sharma and his squad. Despite numerous appearances in semi-finals and finals, India has not clinched an ICC trophy since 2013.
The other semi-final will feature Afghanistan against South Africa in Trinidad, setting the stage for an intense showdown. The tournament’s final is scheduled for June 29 in Barbados, promising a thrilling conclusion to the T20 World Cup.
