Following India’s victory against Pakistan (96 runs) in the T20 World Cup 2026 final match, a former bowler of the Pakistan fast bowling team, Shoaib Akhtar, caused a stir after making a funny, yet interesting, comparison of the Indian team to a “wealthy brat” who dominates the neighbourhood game.
While celebrations erupted around the Indian dressing room following their commanding win over New Zealand at the Narendra Modi stadium at Ahmedabad, it was Akhtar who was attracting attention online with his candid remarks.
Speaking on the popular chat show called, Game On Hai, the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ compared India’s superior position to that of a rich kid who controls a cricket match in the streets because he owns the bat and ball.
Akhtar made the comments while appearing with former captain of Pakistan Sana Mir and legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq during a discussion on the impressive performance of India in the final.
“India has become like that rich kid in the neighbourhood,” Akhtar joked. “He invites all the poor kids in the locality to play cricket but expects only he will win.”
“They beat everyone and then they say lo main jeet gaya (Look, I’ve won again),” he added evoking laughter from the panel.
However, Akhtar was soon to change his approach from the comic to acknowledging the great structure of cricket in India along with the steady planning.
According to him, India’s third T20 World Cup title is a symbol of its strength in the domestic system as well the bold leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Akhtar also praised Gambhir’s decision to support wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson as an important member of the playing XI.
“Samson has been very mature and he’s proven why merit is important,” pointed out Akhtar, in relation to the batter’s string of half-centuries in the knockout stages.
Samson became only second Indian batter after Virat Kohli to score fifties in both semi-final and final within the same T20 world cup.
The former pacer also applauded young opener Abhishek Sharma who smashed the fastest fifty of the tournament in the final.
Akhtar said that India has the capacity to breed indigenous talent even after the days of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is a reflection of the depth of the Indian cricket system.
Also read: Shoaib Akhtar questions strategy after Pakistan’s heavy loss in Colombo clash
