Wasim, Waqar and Jadeja share playful banter while hailing Team India, Kohli and Rohit: 'They should rub it in'

Cricketing legends Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Ajay Jadeja heaped massive praise on the Indian cricket team as they stormed into the Champions Trophy 2025 final with a four-wicket win over Australia in Dubai on Tuesday. Virat Kohli’s sensational 84 on a difficult wicket, Mohammed Shami’s three-wicket haul and Rohit Sharma’s astute captaincy helped Team India make easy work of stubborn Aussies.

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The victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final also helped captain Rohit make a new record as he became the first skipper to reach the finals of all four major ICC tournaments . Rohit guided India to the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship finals in 2023, losing both to Australia. In 2024, he led India to the T20 World Cup final, where they defeated South Africa to break their ICC title jinx and they will now be playing in the Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday, against either South Africa or New Zealand .

Akram: ‘India must be proud of reaching Champions Trophy final’

Appearing on the DP World Dressing Room show, former India batter Ajay Jadeja was quick to point out the Indian cricket team’s recent successful run across different ICC tournaments.

“It seems like it was a walk in the park. We have been in the finals of all ICC tournaments in the last 1-2 years,” Jadeja said in his opening remarks as he was playfully accused of ‘rubbing it in’ by Pakistani anchor Fakhr-e-Alam.

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Bowling great Wasim Akram, however, was quick to point out that Jadeja wasn’t rubbing it in as he was only stating a fact. “He is stating the fact. They should be proud, they should be happy and they should be rubbing it in,” Akram said.

“They have made us so helpless that we can’t say a word,” Waqar added.

The panel discussion soon moved towards Kohli and his masterful knock of 84 as he completed 8,000 runs in ODI chases . On a difficult track, Kohli stabilized India’s innings when it was reduced to 43/2, chasing 265 and forged a partnership of 91 runs with Shreyas Iyer to guide Men in Blue to the final.

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Ajay Jadeja hailed Kohli for how he controlled the middle overs on a difficult pitch, yet again in a big game, and how he never allowed the team to get under pressure.

“It’s just Virat Kohli as you know him. The bigger the game, he lifts his spirits. Got a hundred in the last game and he wasn’t going to throw it away (today),” Jadeja added.

“It did surprise me as he generally finishes the game. But in the troubled period, he was in control and never allowed the questions to arise that there’s going to be pressure or let’s talk about the pitch. He looked in control. It happens on a flat pitch, but this wasn’t a flat pitch. That control was there to see, and that is why he is the chase master.”

Akram and Younis hail Rohit’s captaincy

Wasim Akram congratulated Team India and its fans for reaching the Champions Trophy 2025 final and underlined how India’s strategy to include six proper bowlers in the playing XI once again came in handy in a big match.

“Congratulations to Team India and fans. Congratulations, you are in the final once again… Rohit said he always wanted a sixth bowler in ODIs. This is the learning curve for all teams. When you pick the squad, there has to be a cricketer who gives the captain at least five-and-half bowling options. Five regular bowlers and a sixth bowler who can bowl a few overs in case someone is having a bad day. You can’t play ODI cricket in this era with four bowlers and two part-timers,” Akram said, indicating the mistake the Pakistan cricket team made.

Bowling great Waqar Younis pointed out Rohit’s tactical brilliance of bringing Varun Chakravarthy as early as in the ninth over, which led to Travis Head’s dismissal for just 39. Head has always been a headache for Team India, but his lack of experience against Chakravarthy’s bowling showed as he fell on the very first ball he faced from the spinner.

“That was a good move from Rohit also, to bring him (Chakravarthy) at that time as it was complete chaos at that time with Head getting into the groove,” Younis said.

“Head also had a poor start where he was missing the balls, but suddenly he made a few hits and then he started scoring. It was a great move by Rohit to bring him on. As Nikhil said, maybe it would be difficult for him with the new ball, but that was not the case. From the round the wicket with the new ball, the ball bounced a bit and moved away a little. And as said earlier, if you have not played against him, even playing out a few deliveries won’t help.”

Pandya’s confidence impresses Akram

Akram also heaped praise on Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who made the final stages of the chase look easier by hitting three sixes and scoring quick-fire 28 off 24 as India won with 11 balls to spare. Pandya had also dismissed Adam Zampa while bowling.

“He (Pandya) has confidence in his ability when he comes to bowl, bat or field. He is always happy. He hit those sixes while standing. He is powerful plus confidence does matter. Confidence matters so that I will win the match for the team and not put the responsibility on the next batter. That’s what Pandya is as a cricketer. And in this day and age, I don’t think there’s an all-rounder like him in white-ball cricket,” Akram said.

The Sunday’s summit clash will be India’s fifth Champiosn Trophy final. They won the tournament in 2002 and 2013.