Former fast bowler Sreesanth has expressed his trust in Team India before their highly anticipated showdown against New Zealand in the ODI World Cup 2023. He feels India would comfortably defeat the Kiwis, offering his thoughts on the forthcoming match. Sreesanth spoke candidly with Sportskeeda about New Zealand’s earlier triumph against India in the 2019 semi-finals, the necessity of playing fearless cricket, and the likely result of the World Cup 2023 match.
S Sreesanth Hits Back At Simon Doull’s Remark On Indian Players Not Playing Brave Cricket
Looking Back on 2019
Sreesanth started by reflecting on India’s 2019 semi-final encounter against New Zealand. He said that the decisive moment when MS Dhoni was run out was primarily responsible for New Zealand’s triumph. According to Sreesanth, if Dhoni had not got out with that direct hit, the game’s result would have been different. It’s a memory that both Indian cricket fans and players will remember.
India’s 2023 Strategy
With the ODI World Cup in 2023 approaching, Sreesanth emphasised the significance of attacking cricket. He is certain that New Zealand will face a tough Indian squad aiming to make a lasting impression. He said: “New Zealand are coming to India. They will get to know if India play attacking cricket or not. We will thrash them. They got lucky in 2019 with MS Dhoni getting run out due to a direct hit. What did you do after playing the final?”
Sreesanth’s Thoughts on Simon Doull’s Remarks
Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has said that Indian batters lack boldness in their approach and are excessively obsessed with their numbers. Sreesanth, on the other hand, criticised Doull’s point of view, claiming that Indian cricketers are well capable of playing boldly. He said, “I just want to tell Simon Doull that Indians are going to have a blast against New Zealand. New Zealand are going to learn a lot against India. Yes, there have been certain matches where they have done well against us, especially in ICC events. But those times have gone now. If any of these cricketers get to know what you said, and if Virat is made aware of it, it will be a lot of fun to watch that match.”
Sreesanth went on to say that although New Zealand has had success against India in ICC tournaments in the past, circumstances have changed. He feels that if Indian players learn about Doull’s remarks, it would only fuel their desire to perform at their best.
The Way Forward
Sreesanth’s statements represent the collective attitude of Indian cricket supporters as the ODI World Cup 2023 approaches. The Men in Blue are raring to play against New Zealand, keen to establish their worth on the international stage. Sreesanth’s belief in India’s ability to play brave, aggressive cricket acts as a rallying cry for the squad and its fans.
Finally, Sreesanth’s unshakeable trust in Team India’s ability to outperform New Zealand in the ODI World Cup 2023 is a credit to the team’s quality and devotion. As the cricketing world prepares for this historic fight, one thing is certain: the match between India and New Zealand will be one for the ages.
