Cricket

Waqar Younis backs Indian stars in high-profile player comparisons

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Oct 29, 2026, 14:11 IST

Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has weighed in on several legendary cricket rivalries, consistently favoring Indian icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni during a recent podcast appearance.

Waqar Younis backs Indian stars in high-profile player comparisons

Former Pakistan fast-bowling legend Waqar Younis has offered a candid assessment of some of cricket's most iconic rivalries, frequently siding with Indian stars during a recent rapid-fire segment on the Shubhankar Mishra Podcast. Throughout the discussion, the former captain provided his perspective on how various legends from both nations compare across different facets of the game.

In a series of direct comparisons, Younis expressed a clear preference for Indian talent. When asked to choose between batting greats, he selected Sachin Tendulkar over Inzamam-ul-Haq and opted for Virat Kohli when presented with the choice between the former India captain and Pakistan’s Babar Azam. His preference for Indian players extended to the bowling ranks as well, where he chose Jasprit Bumrah over Shaheen Afridi and Mohammed Shami over Mohammad Amir.

Legendary comparisons and finishing prowess

The discussion also touched upon the tactical side of the game, particularly regarding the ability to close out matches. When asked to choose between MS Dhoni and Javed Miandad for their finishing capabilities, Younis sided with the former Indian skipper. He noted that while Miandad was certainly capable, he believed Dhoni had secured more victories for his side throughout his career, cementing his status as a premier finisher.

Younis continued to favor Indian players in several other head-to-head scenarios. He selected Rohit Sharma over Fakhar Zaman, VVS Laxman over Misbah-ul-Haq, and Rahul Dravid over Younis Khan. The only instance where the former fast bowler chose a Pakistani player over an Indian counterpart was in the comparison between openers, where he picked Saeed Anwar ahead of Virender Sehwag.

During the session, Younis was also asked to evaluate emerging talent, specifically 15-year-old Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 20-year-old Pakistani youngster Sameer Minhas. He declined to make a selection, stating that he had not watched enough of either player to provide an informed opinion. Sooryavanshi recently gained attention for his aggressive 45-run knock off 19 balls, which helped India secure a victory against New Zealand in their ongoing T20I series.

As the focus shifts, the Indian team is preparing for an upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, which is scheduled to commence in Auckland on November 4. Virat Kohli is confirmed to participate in the series, with subsequent matches to be held in Wellington, Hamilton, and Mount Maunganui.