Rohit Sharma & Co play ‘stats-driven’ cricket and need to play fearless brand in knockout stages if Team India wants to win ODI World Cup 2023, believes English great Nasser Hussain and former Kiwi pacer Simon Doull.
Although India has a strong squad, according to former England captain Nasser Hussain, they will need to play “fearless cricket” in the knockout stages if they want to win the ODI World Cup. He also hailed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the greatest white-ball players ever.
The home team has won four of the last five World Cups. Hussain thinks India has an advantage playing at home but they are not overwhelming favourites.
“They are the favourites but I will not call them the clear favourites just because the amount of quality sides there are in the tournament,”Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports.
The Indian side will need to find a method to perform under pressure, according to Nasser, who believes that the country’s previous failure to perform well in ICC competitions is due to its inability to play brave cricket under pressure.
Rohit Sharma-led side plays ‘Stats Driven’ cricket
Speaking candidly on Rohit Sharma-led side chances in the ODI World Cup 2023, Simon Doull didn’t hold back. The former New Zealand seamer launched a vicious criticism of Indian batting, calling it “stats-driven cricket” and accusing them of being risk-averse.
“Fearless cricket is there issue,” Simon Doull said.
“They don’t play fearless cricket enough. They play statistics driven cricket and they are too worried about their stats too often. And to me that is the one area I am concerned about their batting side,” he added.
According to Doull, India‘s unwillingness to play brave cricket under pressure caused them to do poorly in the most recent ICC events.