'I was hurt last year when India...': Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar reacts as India make T20 World Cup final

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar commended Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his leadership qualities, labelling him as a 'selfless captain' who prioritizes the team's interests following India's convincing 68-run victory over England in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Sharma's performance was a highlight, contributing significantly with a 57-run innings off 39 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes, although his stint at the crease was halted in the 14th over by Adil Rashid.

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In his analysis on his YouTube channel, Akhtar expressed his support for the Indian team, suggesting they were deserving of the T20 World Cup title, especially under Sharma's captaincy.
"Rohit Sharma has repeatedly said he wants to make an impact and win the trophy and so, deserves to win the cup. He is a big player, and it should end on a big note. He is a selfless captain, plays for the team and is a complete batter," said Akhtar, as quoted by ANI.
Akhtar also shared his disappointment over India's failure to secure the ODI World Cup in 2023, indicating his ongoing support for the team in international tournaments.
"I was always in favour of India winning the tournament. I was hurt last year when India could not win the World Cup as they should not have lost it because they deserved to win," he added.

The semi-final match saw England opting to field first, a decision that allowed India to set a target of 171/7. Contributions came from various players, including Suryakumar Yadav (47 runs from 36 balls) and supporting knocks from Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. England's Chris Jordan was notable in the bowling department, taking three wickets for 37 runs in his spell.
England's chase was hampered by a lack of adaptation to the pitch conditions, culminating in a total of 103 all out in 16.4 overs. Harry Brook and Jos Buttler were the main contributors for England, but their efforts were insufficient against the Indian bowling lineup. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were instrumental for India, each taking three wickets, with Jasprit Bumrah also adding two wickets to the tally.