In the lead-up to the ODI World Cup 2023, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his predictions for the grand event. Contrary to popular sentiments, Gavaskar places his bet not on India but on defending champions, England, as the favorites to clinch the title.
Sharing his insights on Star Sports, Gavaskar believes that England's formidable roster of all-rounders gives them a competitive edge, capable of turning the tide in any match situation. It's notable that England claimed their first-ever World Cup victory in a nail-biting Super Over against New Zealand in 2019. The two powerhouses are set for a rematch, marking the tournament's inaugural match on October 5.
"The defending champions, England, because of the kind of talent that they have at, at the top of the order, the batting order, they've got two or three world-class all-rounders who can change the game with both bat and ball. They've also got a very good bowling line-up, an experienced bowling line-up, so at the moment in my book certainly," said Gavaskar.
However, India's former all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, has a different take. As per him, Team India is shaping up impressively for the World Cup, and their recent form makes them one of the top contenders for the coveted trophy. He highlighted the rich vein of form of not only the first XI but also the players on the bench, underlining India's solid depth in talent.
"I'm very excited to see how India performs and I really think they are one of the favorites, for sure because especially last couple of series, like Asia Cup, and the way India played against Australia as well in the home conditions. I think they are ticking all the boxes," said Pathan.
"They have players who are performing really well but you have a guy like Mohammed Shami, who's not in the part of playing 11 consistently, who's a world-class bowler itself, so it shows the kind of team India has and at the same time the bench strength India has," Pathan added.
India's World Cup journey will commence against Australia at Chennai's iconic Chepauk Stadium on October 8. Before this crucial encounter, they are set to test their strategies against the Netherlands and England in warm-up matches.
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