'He should learn that from Virat and Rohit' - Rashid Latif opens up key aspect Babar Azam should pick up from Indian icons

Prior to any India-Pakistan showdown, there's a pervasive proliferation of discussions and speculations spanning various topics such as strategies, team compositions, player matchups, and beyond. This discourse reaches an unprecedented crescendo, particularly when these two arch-rivals collide on the grandest stage, the World Cup. With the adrenaline-charged clash between the two titans slated for upcoming Sunday, another esteemed former cricketer, Rashid Latif, shared his insights. 

According to a quote attributed to him by the Hindustan Times, the former Pakistani skipper opined that while Babar possessed exceptional batting prowess, there remained ample room for growth in his capacity as a leader and captain. Specifically, he suggested that Babar could benefit from observing and emulating the exemplary composure displayed by Indian cricket luminaries, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both renowned for their ability to handle pressure with utmost aplomb. Latif underscored the importance of Babar's ability to navigate the intense pressure associated with clashes against India, given Pakistan's historical challenges in such encounters. 

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"The focus is on the game on June 9 against India. Babar will be under a lot of pressure because of the game against India, rather than performing in the World Cup. But, he has to learn to carry pressure, he should learn that from Virat and Rohit. They know how to carry the game. As a batter, Babar's one of the best but as a captain and leader, there's a lot that he needs to learn," stated Latif, as quoted by the Hindustan Times.

The team doesn't look as prepared as they were in 2021 and 2022: Latif 

Furthermore, after singling out Kuldeep Yadav as the primary threat against Pakistan and throughout the World Cup, based on his current form and recent performances (having claimed 16 wickets in 11 IPL 2024 matches), while also considering the prevailing conditions at the venues and the behaviour of the pitches thus far, Latif suggested that India's success hinged on Kuldeep's fitness throughout the tournament and tagged India as the favourites ahead of the contest.

Latif remarked that although Pakistan typically performs well in ICC tournaments, the team appeared deficiently primed and cohesive compared to their performances in the 2021 and 2022 editions, where they reached the semi-finals and finished as runners-up, respectively. He attributed this decline to the repercussions following last year's 50-over World Cup, which saw significant changes in captaincy, player personnel, and the selection committee, resulting in instability within the team.

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"Kuldeep Yadav is that one player who if remains fit for India throughout the World Cup, he can cause trouble for batters. He's India’s key bowler and also a key to success. Given the current form and stats, definitely India has an advantage ahead of June 9. The Pakistan team plays well in the ICC tournaments, but the team doesn't look as prepared as they were in 2021 and 2022. The damage happened after the last ODI World Cup with changes in captaincy, the selection committee, and players," Latif concluded.