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SPORTS NOVEMBER 17, 2023 | The Indian Eye 38

Richards said in the ICC column.
“Many people have made com-
parisons between the two of us over
the years, partly because of our
shared intensity on the field. I love
Virat’s enthusiasm - even if he is field-
ing at long-on or long-off, when one
of his bowlers hits the pad, he is ap-
pealing. He is always in the game and
I like individuals like that,” Richards
added.
The iconic West Indies batter
hailed Kohli for bouncing back from
his struggles and playing the way he is
in the World Cup against tough com-
petitors, proving that form is tempo-
rary and class is permanent.
“India will win the World Cup”:

Kirmani
yed Kirmani who was one of the
crucial figures in India’s 1983
SWorld Cup has backed India
to win the World Cup on the back
of their exceptional performances
throughout the tournament.
Kirmani along with South Af-
rica’s iconic cricketer Jonty Rhodes
travelled in the Vande Bharat Express
from Bhopal to Delhi on Thursday.
After arriving in Delhi, Kirmani
was quizzed about India’s recent per-
formances and he told mediapersons, Glenn Maxwell celebrates his double-century and the team’s victory against Afghanistan at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (ANI)
“India will win the World Cup, they
have played very well.”
After playing exceptional cricket Lanka and claimed that an inspection prove pivotal in their quest for a sixth marked Australia’s sixth win on the
throughout the tournament, South should be conducted as the ball could ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title. trot at the World Cup and fixed the
Africa and India qualified for the have an extra layer or coating. Maxwell overcame severe five-time champions’ encounter with
semi-final stage. A single defeat in While speaking on Pakistan’s cramps and a back spasm to smash South Africa in an exciting semi-final
the final-four would end up making media outlet ABN News Raza said, an unbeaten 201* in just 128 balls (21 next week for a place in the tourna-
all of their efforts futile. “The way Siraj and Shami are swing- fours and 10 sixes) against Afghani- ment decider.
Rhodes expressed delight about ing the ball, the BCCI and ICC were stan on Tuesday to help Australia Ponting thinks Maxwell’s heroics
the individual and team performanc- giving them different balls in the sec- reach the semifinals. With Aussies against Afghanistan might just prove
es that have contributed to making ond innings. I feel there is an extra at 91/7 in a run-chase of 292 at one the catalyst for Australia to continue
the entire tournament great and how layer and extra coating so I think an point, Maxwell and skipper Pat Cum- their winning run, and provide them
things will get difficult from this point. inspection should be conducted.” mins snatched the victory from jaws with the belief that they can go on
“It has been a great tournament. Shami responded to Raza’s ques- of defeat. and win another World Cup title.
Very well hosted by India. Some of tionable comments and asked him It was a knock of immense quali- “All the great teams that I have
the cricket, whether it is from the to at least believe in Wasim Akram’s ty from Maxwell, with Ponting reveal- played with and all the great teams
team or an individual, has been amaz- explanation and wrote on Instagram, ing after the match that the innings that I have been around have always
ing. From here, it only gets tougher “Sharm karo yaar (Shame on you), was the best he can remember. had that belief that they can win from
because the stakes go up,” Rhodes you should focus on the game and “I have been around a lot of anywhere, and literally anywhere,
told mediapersons. not on useless nonsense, you can at games playing and calling and I have even World Cup campaigns that I
least enjoy the success of others. It is never seen anything like that, and I will played in,” Ponting said.
Shami slams Raza for “ball- an ICC World Cup, not a local crick- be very surprised if I see anything like “We had games where we prob-
changing” remarks et tournament. Wasim [Akram] bhai that ever again,” Ponting exclaimed. ably should not have won, but some-
has tried to explain, at least try to be- “It was the most remarkable one was there with that belief to put
ndian speedster Mohammed lieve in your player.” thing you have probably ever seen in their hand up and win the game. And
Shami hit back at former Pakistan cricket. Ben Stokes’ Test innings to that is what I talk about with Austra-
Istar cricketer Hasan Raza for his Ponting praises Maxwell’s win it (third Ashes Test in 2019) at lia in World Cups.
remarks about ICC giving different double ton Headingly was something that I had “They have got this knack of be-
balls to Indian bowlers claiming that never seen before and I think this one ing able to just win the big moments
the former cricketer should at least ustralia great Ricky Ponting goes past that just for the sheer enor- and today was a huge moment as they
believe in their own player. believes that the Aussies mity of what it means for the Austra- qualify for the World Cup semi-finals
Raza raised serious questions Awill get immense belief from lian cricket team making the World now and hopefully onwards and up-
about Indian pacers producing ex- Glenn Maxwell’s stunning innings Cup semi-finals.” wards for them,” concluded the leg-
ceptional performances against Sri against Afghanistan and that it could This unbelievable triumph endary batter.

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