INDIA: In a recent video on his YouTube channel, former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal shared his thoughts on the Indian cricket team’s upcoming tour of the West Indies. While analyzing the squad, Akmal focused on the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, urging him to display a stronger on-field presence, akin to his predecessor, Virat Kohli.
Rohit Sharma was recently appointed as the captain for both the Test and ODI formats during the West Indies tour, while Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya were named as his deputies for Tests and ODIs, respectively. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also dropped veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara from the team following his poor performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Akmal praised the Indian selectors for their overall squad selection but raised questions about the exclusion of certain players, namely Sarfaraz Khan and Umran Malik. While acknowledging the challenges of fitting Sarfaraz Khan into the playing XI, Akmal believed that including him in the squad would have been a positive gesture, ensuring he feels valued and giving him hope for future opportunities.
Additionally, Akmal highlighted the potential of fast bowler Umran Malik, emphasizing the dry pitches in the West Indies and the potential for reverse swing with the Dukes ball. He believed that Malik’s pace and skill could have made him a lethal weapon for the Indian team in the series.
Addressing Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, Akmal acknowledged that the Indian opener has done a decent job thus far, especially considering the circumstances surrounding Virat Kohli’s absence. However, he urged Sharma to show more authority and establish a stronger presence on the field, drawing inspiration from Kohli’s commanding leadership style.
“The team is well-balanced. The Indian team must get off to a strong start. I want Rohit Sharma to lead the team more effectively. Be there on the ground, just like Virat Kohli was. He has an opportunity. After what happened with the Kohli fiasco, Rohit Sharma has done a respectable job so far,” Akmal stated on his YouTube channel.
As the Indian team gears up for their tour of the West Indies, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma to see if he can rise to the challenge and fulfill the expectations set by Kamran Akmal and cricket enthusiasts around the world. Will he be able to emulate the authoritative presence of his predecessor, Virat Kohli, and lead the Indian team to success? Only time will tell.
The West Indies tour is scheduled to commence next month, with fans eagerly awaiting the thrilling cricketing action between the two nations.
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