IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, And Jasprit Bumrah Snubbed As Wasim Akram Names India's Main Weapon For ICC World Cup 2023

Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has revealed his pick for India’s ‘main weapon’ in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. Team India have fired a timely warning to the other teams ahead of the marquee event by winning the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023 in style.

India, on Sunday (September 17), thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in their own backyard to lift the Asia Cup for the eighth time. Riding on Mohammed Siraj’s sensational spell of 6 for 21, the Men in Blue bowled out the home side for a paltry total of 50 runs before chasing it down in just 6.1 overs.

India are one of the favorites for the World Cup. Having not won the title since 2011, they will be desperate to end their long wait this year on the home soil. The World Cup is scheduled to be played from October 5 while Team India will open their campaign on October 8 against Australia in Chennai.

Wasim Akram on India’s main weapon:

Ahead of the World Cup, Wasim Akram has named the player he thinks could be India’s key player. The former Pakistan spearhead snubbed the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah and picked allrounder Hardik Pandya as India’s main weapon for the ODI World Cup. He also stated that India have a balanced squad and will be one of the favorites to win the World Cup.

“He (Hardik Pandya) is their main weapon in the upcoming World Cup and India are one of the favourite teams to win it. For starters, they are playing at home and we have seen what they can do with the ball,” Wasim Akram was quoted as saying to Star Sports.

“Kuldeep got wickets as well against the big sides in the Asia Cup. So, it’s a complete side. So, well done to the Indian think tank, which has been supporting these boys and making sure that they have the proper squad before the World Cup,” he added.

Hardik Pandya impressed with both bat and ball in the Asia Cup. He began his campaign with a fighting 87-run knock against Pakistan after India were reduced to 66 for 4. Overall, he scored 92 runs at an average of 46 and picked up six wickets at an economy rate of 3.34.