Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has commented on India’s struggles in major tournaments, particularly noting their inability to finish strongly in recent ICC events. He praised the current Indian team for their skillfulness and powerful bowling lineup ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA.
“You call it Pakistan’s jinx or mental block when it comes to playing India in World Cups. Pakistan will need to do a lot because this is a very skilled Indian team with a powerful bowling line-up and two good spinners.”
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Misbah On Team India And ICC Trophy Drought
Despite India’s unbeaten run in last year’s ODI World Cup until the final, where they lost to Australia, Misbah highlighted India’s lack of ICC titles since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
“It’s a different Indian team now, a skillful team with a very powerful bowling lineup. The batting has always been strong, but the quality of their fast bowling has elevated their game. With bowlers like Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and the all-around abilities of Hardik Pandya, the quality of Indian cricket has increased significantly. Their ability to handle pressure has improved too,” Misbah said during the Star Sports Press Room show.
“Playing so much cricket gives them exposure and boosts their confidence. To break this, opposing teams need to make a lot of effort, which is a difficult task. Look at Australia, for instance. They overcome most of these hurdles with their strong mental attitude. As big matches and pressure situations arise, they manage to stay composed,” he added.
He also mentioned India’s disappointments in the World Test Championship and the T20 World Cup, where they were defeated by England in the semifinals. Misbah credited India’s current pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami, while also commending the overall quality of Indian cricket.
The 2009 T20 World Cup champion highlighted that India fell behind in finishing the tournament on high despite starting the event well. “In contrast, teams like Pakistan, India, and other Asian teams face immense pressure from their huge populations and high expectations. This pressure can affect performance significantly. It’s something India has struggled with in the last few mega-events, where they haven’t been able to finish strong,” Misbah said.
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