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As the 13th edition of the prestigious ODI World Cup heads towards its climax with India set to face Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, cricket icon Yuvraj Singh has joined the bandwagon of experts predicting the standout performer of the tournament.
Yuvraj Singh’s prediction for the ‘Player of the Tournament’
Yuvraj, who himself won the Player of the Tournament trophy in the 2011 CWC, believes that senior pacer Mohammed Shami deserves the prestigious award more than anyone else, citing his phenomenal performance in the ongoing 2023 World Cup. The Chandigarh-born cricketer, speaking to Sports Tak, commended Shami’s exceptional display.
“India always had match-winners on the bench. I won’t say Hardik’s injury was a blessing in disguise, but everyone was waiting to see how Shami will perform and the way he has set the stage on fire has been outstanding. I feel if anyone deserves the Player of the Tournament award, it’s Mohammed Shami,” Yuvraj said.
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Mohammad Shami’s phenomenal performance
Despite playing only six games in the competition so far, Shami has taken a remarkable 23 wickets, leading the wickets tally in the 2023 World Cup. His outstanding contribution includes a seven-wicket haul against New Zealand in the semifinals, marking the best figure by an Indian in ODI history.
Commendation for Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid
Yuvraj also expressed praise for captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, acknowledging their efforts in establishing India as a dominant force in recent months.
“Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid have a chance to get their first World Cup medal. They deserve it. Before the Asia Cup, we were wondering where is the Indian ODI team because we didn’t know the combination. However, the return of Iyer, Rahul and Bumrah certainly made a difference,” the 41-year-old concluded.
