Former India fast bowler Sreesanth believes that Team India will defeat New Zealand in their upcoming clash at the ODI World Cup 2023. However, expressing his thoughts over former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull’s comments that India not playing fearless cricket, Sreesanth added that New Zealand were lucky to win against India in the 2019 semi-finals as he believes they would have lost the knockout fixture if MS Dhoni didn’t get run out as well.
Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda, Sreesanth 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? They made a team like England win the World Cup, who hadn’t won a 50-over World Cup until then. New Zealand are never going to win. Yes, they might win in the future, but it will be embarrassing for them this time. If you get a chance address the media, please think before you speak. If you are ready to give, you should be able to take it also.”
READ MORE: Virat Kohli shares the importance of maintaining diet
Sreesanth again shared that if Virat Kohli and other players get to know about Doull’s comments, they will thrash New Zealand at the World Cup 2023 as well. However, speaking to Sky Sports earlier this month, Simon Doull stated that Indian batters don’t play fearless cricket and are more worried about their statistics only.
He further added: “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.”
READ MORE: “Can be the future captain of India” – Kiran More on Ruturaj Gaikwad
Speaking in the same video, Sreesanth also stated that New Zealand could fail to qualify for the World Cup 2023 semi-finals if their former players continue to do this as well. He further eadded that New Zealand cricketers should be grateful to India for giving them opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well.
“I had kept New Zealand in my top four, but if they make such statements, they won’t even qualify for the semi-finals. We have supported New Zealand players a lot by giving them opportunities in the IPL. Their cricket and lifestyle have changed because of the IPL, so they should be grateful to the Indian cricket team,” he concluded.
