Table of Contents
- Pakistan secures the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings after a 3-0 series win over Afghanistan.
- Indian skipper Rohit Sharma praises Pakistan’s cricketing journey and recognizes their ascent to the top.
- Rohit Sharma emphasizes the challenge posed by Pakistan and India’s preparation against Pakistan’s pace trio.
Pakistan recently claimed the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings, marking a significant achievement in their cricketing journey. After sweeping Afghanistan 3-0 in a series held in Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s ascent to the pinnacle of ODI cricket drew praise from Indian skipper Rohit Sharma as the arch-rivals gear up for their clash in the 2023 Asia Cup.
During a pre-match press conference, Rohit Sharma commended Pakistan’s cricketing prowess and their remarkable journey to the No. 1 ranking in ODI cricket. He acknowledged the sheer hard work and dedication exhibited by the Pakistan cricket team, emphasizing that their ascent to the top is a remarkable milestone worthy of recognition and solidifies Pakistan as a formidable force in the cricketing world.
Rohit Sharma Lauds Pakistan’s No. 1 ODI Ranking Ahead of Asia Cup Showdown
Rohit Sharma expressed his admiration for Pakistan’s consistent performance in recent years, whether in the T20 World Cup or 50-over cricket. He noted that becoming the top-ranked team is not a feat achieved overnight; it demands relentless effort and dedication. He acknowledged Pakistan’s unity and impressive cricketing performances, emphasizing that facing them will be a challenge for India.
“Pakistan is a very good team. They’ve been performing very well in the last few years, whether in the T20 World Cup or 50-over cricket. No team becomes Number 1 just like that; it takes a lot of effort. I’m sure the Pakistan team has worked hard to become Number 1. They play like a unit and are playing good cricket, so it’ll be a challenge for us,”
Discussing the forthcoming clash and India’s preparations to combat Pakistan’s formidable bowling attack, Rohit Sharma highlighted the importance of leveraging their experience against Pakistan’s pace trio, which includes Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. While recognizing these bowlers’ quality and recent performances, Rohit mentioned that India has been preparing diligently against their own available resources, aiming to utilize their vast experience effectively.
“We don’t have Shaheen, Naseem, and Rauf in our nets, so we have to practice against who we have available. All three are quality bowlers and have been performing well. Pakistan have always had quality bowlers. We’ve looked at their strengths and how they bowl. We’ve been playing for so long so we must utilize our experience to play them, it’s as simple as that,”
As the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan match in the 2023 Asia Cup approaches, cricket fans worldwide eagerly await the encounter. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, has already begun their campaign with a victory over Nepal, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. In contrast, India, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, is gearing up for their first match against their arch-rivals, promising a thrilling contest on September 2 in Kandy.
Also, see:
Asia Cup 2023: How to watch Pakistan vs India Live in Pakistan?
