India have ruined cricket: Salty Shoaib Akhtar reacts to one-sided T20 World Cup win
India Today
T20 World Cup: Shoaib Akhtar lashed out after India's dominant T20 World Cup triumph, claiming the team has "ruined cricket." The former Pakistan pacer compared India to a rich kid dominating neighbourhood games.
India’s dominant triumph in the 2026 T20 World Cup final has triggered strong reactions across the cricketing world, particularly from across the border. Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar delivered one of the most controversial responses, claiming that India’s rise has “ruined cricket.”
India outclassed New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, sealing a massive 96-run win to lift their third T20 World Cup title. While most cricket experts praised the clinical performance, Akhtar launched a sharp attack during the Tapmad show Game On Hai, comparing India to a “rich kid” dominating a neighbourhood game.
| IND vs NZ final: Highlights | Scorecard |
“It’s like when there’s one rich kid in a neighbourhood who calls all the poor kids and says, ‘Come, let’s play cricket.’ That’s exactly what India is doing with us. Out of eight teams, they keep four, and out of those four they call three again and move forward, and then they say, ‘See, I’ve won.’ They have ruined cricket entirely,” Akhtar said.
Look at the hypocrisy of Shoaib Akhtar, on one hand he is saying such things and on the other hand he is listening to the criticism of India. pic.twitter.com/jKKDGtWqtu— Neeraj Ranjan (@NeerajRanjan84) March 9, 2026
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