World Cup 2023 Final: Mohammed Shami was the standout player for India in tournament, says Rashid Latif

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif reckons Mohammed Shami was the standout player for India in the World Cup 2023. Shami didn’t get to play in the first four matches as India backed Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur but he was able to hit the ground running in his opening game against New Zealand, bagging a five-wicket haul (5-54).

The right-arm pacer was right on the money throughout the tournament and bowled brilliantly with seam-up position, which has always been his strength. Shami ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps in seven matches and he bowled with an impressive average of 10.71, including three five-wicket hauls and one four-wicket haul.

The fast bowler from West Bengal also bagged seven wickets in the all-important semifinal against New Zealand.

Rashid Latif said as quoted by PTI, “You look at the way he has come up and done so well. He was in my opinion the standout player for India in this World Cup.”

Meanwhile, India’s wait for the major ICC title continued as they could not cross the last hurdle against Australia. It has been 10 years since India won their last big tournament. Latif gave credit to Australia for outplaying India in the all-important final but feels the hosts were worthy of winning the World Cup title.

“Maybe it is just a psychological thing with the Indian players. This team was worthy of winning the World Cup final but all credit to the Australians for showing once again how mentally tough and organized they are in their sports,” Latif said.

India could only manage 240 runs on the board and it turned out to be a below-par score in the end. In fact, the hosts could only score two boundaries in the middle overs and scored only 117 runs from overs 11-40.