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As the much-anticipated ODI World Cup 2023 gears up to enthral fans worldwide, the cricket fraternity is abuzz with discussions on potential champions. With the championship scheduled to commence from October 5, all the teams have started to finalise their respective squads for the cricket carnival.
Having showcased a commendable performance in the Asia Cup 2023, India's cricket team emerges as a force to be reckoned with.
Commenting on the prospects of various teams in the ODI World Cup, cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara shed light on potential front-runners on Sky Sports. He emphasised the fierce competition expected between powerhouse teams, stating, "I think England and India are going to be top favourites."
Reflecting on the Asia Cup's outcomes, Sangakkara added, "I saw Sri Lanka play the last game and how they played throughout the Asia Cup, so they could be challenging for a playoff position... once you're in the playoffs, you're a game away. You have a good day, you could be in the final."
Echoing Sangakkara's sentiments, Eoin Morgan, the captain who famously led England to their 2019 World Cup victory, pinpointed India's strength stemming from the inclusion of the versatile Hardik Pandya. Pandya's dual role as a formidable batsman and an effective bowler, particularly during the middle overs, sets him apart.
Morgan elaborated, "The fitness level of Hardik Pandya, his ability to bowl. He has bowled a little bit in the Asia Cup so far but he has bowled really, really well and there are very few sides in the tournament that would be a genuine contender that will have somebody who bats in the top six and has the ability to bowl." He further endorsed India's advantageous position, stating, "Having Hardik Pandya fit and being able to bowl five and six overs of quality bowling really does in my eyes make them probably favourite."
The cricketing world awaits India's final decision on their ODI World Cup squad. While they unveiled their preliminary lineup on September 5, speculations are rife on whether the squad will see any alterations.
India's provisional ODI World Cup Squad:
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
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