Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, a veteran who faced India many times during his playing career, appeared as a guest on the Shubhankar Mishra Podcast and was asked to make a series of head‑to‑head selections between Indian and Pakistani cricket icons. In a rapid‑fire round, Younis favoured Indian legends in the majority of match‑ups, naming only one Pakistani player, Saeed Anwar, among his picks.
Younis’ rapid‑fire choices
The questionnaire began with a classic batting duel: Sachin Tendulkar versus Inzamam‑ul‑Haq. Younis responded without hesitation, “Sachin Tendulkar.” He then moved to the modern era, pitting Virat Kohli against Babar Azam, and again chose the Indian side, answering simply “Virat Kohli.” When the discussion shifted to pace bowling, Younis favoured Jasprit Bumrah over Pakistan’s emerging fast bowler Shaheen Afridi.
Continuing the sequence, Younis was presented with the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Saeed Anwar. This time he broke his Indian‑only streak, selecting the Pakistani legend “Saeed Anwar.” The next comparison paired Rahul Dravid with Younis Khan, and Younis opted for the Indian stalwart “Rahul Dravid.” Finally, the former captain was asked to choose between finishers MS Dhoni and Javed Miandad. Younis chose the Indian captain, stating, “I guess MS Dhoni ne jyada matches jitaye hain… and finishing mein. Javed bhai ne bhi kiye hain, but I will pick Dhoni.”
Why Dhoni topped the finishers
When pressed for a rationale behind his Dhoni selection, Younis highlighted the Indian wicket‑keeper‑captain’s record in closing out games. He noted that Dhoni had secured more victories in his career and was renowned for finishing matches, a quality he felt outweighed Miandad’s own contributions in that specific role. The former Pakistan captain’s comment underscored a respect for Dhoni’s reputation as a finisher, even as he acknowledged Miandad’s achievements.
Further Indian preferences and a lone Pakistani pick
Beyond the initial set, Younis continued to side with Indian players. He chose Rohit Sharma over Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, VVS Laxman over Misbah‑ul‑Haq, and Mohammed Shami over Mohammad Amir. Each answer was delivered in the same concise style, reflecting his clear preference for the Indian representatives in those particular match‑ups.
The only Pakistani cricketer to receive Younis’s endorsement in the rapid‑fire round was Saeed Anwar, who was selected over Virender Sehwag. This solitary nod to a Pakistani player highlighted the overall tilt of Younis’s selections toward his former rivals.
Emerging talents left unchosen
The podcast also featured a question about two young prospects: India’s 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Pakistan’s 20‑year‑old Sameer Minhas. Younis declined to choose, explaining, “unko maine itna dekha nahi hai,” indicating that he had not watched either player enough to form an opinion.
Additional context about Sooryavanshi was provided during the discussion. The teenager had been thrust into the spotlight during India’s ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. After being drafted into the playing XI for the second T20I due to Ishan Kishan’s injury, he managed four runs. He rebounded in the third T20I, blasting 45 runs from 19 balls, hitting four sixes and four fours, and helping India chase a target of 199 to secure a six‑wicket victory. That win gave India a 3‑0 lead in the five‑match series.
Implications and upcoming series
Younis’s selections, while personal preferences, arrived at a time when Indian cricket is gearing up for a new challenge. The focus is shifting to a five‑match One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, followed by two Test matches. Virat Kohli, one of the players Younis endorsed, is slated to feature in the ODI series that kicks off in Auckland on November 4. Subsequent matches are scheduled for Wellington, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui.
The rapid‑fire round, though informal, offers a glimpse into how a former Pakistani great perceives the current generation of cricketers across the subcontinent. Younis’s inclination toward Indian legends—Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni, Sharma, Laxman and Shami—suggests a respect for the impact those players have had on the game, while his lone Pakistani endorsement of Saeed Anwar acknowledges the enduring legacy of that former opener.
As the cricketing calendar moves forward, the dialogue sparked by Younis’s choices may fuel further debates among fans of both nations, especially as the upcoming ODI series provides a fresh arena for the players he praised to showcase their skills on the international stage.
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