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The ODI World Cup 2023 has commenced with a series of exhilarating matches, with former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif making a bold prediction regarding the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. The announcement comes in the wake of a highly-anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, which took place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
India dominates Pakistan in high-stakes clash
The India-Pakistan encounter, considered one of the most intense rivalries in world cricket, saw Team India secure a commanding victory by seven wickets. This triumph extended India’s sensational World Cup winning streak to 8-0, putting them on top of the points table in the 2023 tournament. The star of the match were Indian bowlers, who played a pivotal role in dismantling the Pakistan batting unit.
Rashid Latif’s bold prediction
Following the game, former Pakistan captain Latif predicted that the Indian left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav will finish as the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Cup 2023. Kuldeep’s impressive statistics, with five wickets in three matches at an average of 23.40, have certainly turned heads. During the match against Pakistan, Kuldeep registered figures of two for 35, accounting for key wickets, including Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed, and was the only Indian bowler to complete his full quota of 10 overs.
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In his column for the Indian Express, Latif acknowledged the Pakistani batter’s struggle against Kuldeep, stating, “Against Kuldeep, we looked timid, we were trying to just play out his ten overs. Not a single Pakistan batsman was able to pick Kuldeep (Yadav), and I think if he is not rested in a few matches, Kuldeep will end up being the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.”
Call for Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion
Latif also emphasized the importance of having Ravichandran Ashwin in the Indian team. The experienced off-spinner has only featured in India’s opening game against Australia in Chennai. Latif expressed his surprise at Ashwin’s limited involvement, stating, “I was surprised that India didn’t pick Ashwin. I feel he should play all the matches for India. If Ashwin had played, I don’t think we could have even got 190 on the board.”
