Shahid Afridi’s Huge Praise For Rohit Sharma’s Men: ‘India Will Beat Even A World 11’
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Shahid Afridi praises Rohit Sharma’s 2025 Champions Trophy-winning team, saying they could even beat a ‘World 11’.
India celebrating with the 2025 Champions Trophy (PTI)
Shahid Afridi believes Rohit Sharma’s 2025 Champions Trophy winners were strong enough to even beat a ‘World 11’ from the rest of the tournament. The former Pakistani captain, and white-ball legend, said the Indian team ‘deserved to win’ the tournament because of their investment in domestic structure and the ‘brilliant work’ done be the selection committee in picking the right team.
India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday to claim the third Champions Trophy title for the country. Pakistan, the official hosts, endured a completely contrasting time, failing to win all matches and being out of the semi-final race halfway through the group stage. Losing the title in a home tournament has put the light back on Pakistan cricket’s many weaknesses.
“They deserved to win,” Afridi said on Samaa TV. “When you invest in your domestic cricket, the structure, the academies and good cricket, you’ll get the results for it. No doubt India’s selection for the Champions Trophy, for the conditions… it was brilliant work from their selection committee. Yes, I agree that they knew the conditions because they played all their matches at the same place and didn’t change venues.”
“That’s a big reason behind their win but the real reason is also their selection,” he added. “I know this because I have played in Dubai, we used to attack the spinners, the role of the spinners is very important here. Their selection was very good. If you see India’s team from openers to middle-order, to all-rounders, genuine spinners and fast-bowlers — I’ll say that if you make a World 11 of the Champions Trophy and make them play against India in Dubai, India will still win.”
India were the only team to go through the tournament without losing a single match. They did it despite not having the best fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and after deciding against selecting one of the most in-form pacers of the format, Mohammed Siraj in favor of four spinners. Pakistan, meanwhile, just played with one specialist tweaker in Abrar Ahmed.