IND vs PAK: I Don't Know Why The Indian Media Is So Harsh On The Players - Athar Ali Khan

Former cricketer-turned-commentator Athar Ali Khan has heaped praise on Team India and feels that Rohit Sharma & Co. will do well in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.

The marquee event is scheduled to be played from October 5 to November 19. Team India will be under huge pressure to win the competition after their failures to win silverware in recent years. India have not won the World Cup since 2011 while they last won an ICC trophy back in 2013.

The poor performances in ICC competitions in the last couple of years or so have only increased the pressure on the Indian team. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, the Men in Blue failed to advance to the semifinal stage. Last year, they crashed out of the Asia Cup at the Super 4 stage before suffering a crushing 10-wicket defeat against England in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022.

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The failure to win the ICC World Test Championship final in 2021 and 2023 has also added more pressure on the team. With the World Cup to be played on home soil, Rohit Sharma and his teammates will be under immense pressure to live up to the expectations.

While Athar Ali Khan believes that the Indian team is strong enough to do well in the competition, he could not help but express his shock over the treatment meted out to the players by the Indian media. He then went on to praise the players and singled out Virat Kohli for special praise.

“India has a fantastic team. I don’t know why the Indian media is so harsh on the players at times. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top of the order is a dream opening pair. Both are match-winners. And then you have the champion in Virat Kohli. If you just see the way Kohli runs between wickets, you know why he is special. Every youngster should take lessons from him in self-discipline and fitness,” Athar Ali Khan told RevSportz.

“He has achieved everything and yet is hungry. That’s the hallmark of a true great. Each one of us will agree he went through a rough patch. But then he has come back stronger. That’s what matters, isn’t it? To the entire cricket world, Virat Kohli has given an abundance of joy and that’s why I say he is a class act. A real class act,” added the former Bangladesh cricketer.

Athar Ali Khan on Indian team:

After talking about India’s top three, Athar Ali Khan talked about the middle-order, allrounders and the bowling lineup. He stated that the return of KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah would be a big boost to the Indian team. Both Rahul and Bumrah have been named in India’s squad for the Asia Cup and are likely to be named in the World Cup squad as well.

“In the middle order, it will be a big boost for India if KL Rahul is fit. Then you have Hardik and Jadeja, two very good all-rounders who can walk into any team. And the bowling with Shami, Siraj, Bumrah and Kuldeep looks stellar. A fit Jasprit Bumrah could be a massive addition for India,” said Athar Ali Khan.

“It means your death bowling is sorted and with Shami, you will always have a chance of picking wickets at the start of an innings. Kuldeep looks a very good bowler. Mentally, he seems stronger and is very much in control of his game. So in every sense, India is the team to beat at home. Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma will know it, and I think all you need to do is support the team and not exert undue pressure and be critical of the players.

“I say this because the favourites tag always brings pressure in its wake. Indian fans will want the team to win everything. But what should work in India’s favour is the format is such that you do get a second chance in this World Cup. Even if you lose a game or two, you have more opportunities. That’s what should ease the pressure a bit on India,” he added.

The World Cup is scheduled to start on October 5 while India will open their campaign on October 8. Before the World Cup, the Men in Blue will play in the Asia Cup.