There are less than three months before the 2023 ODI World Cup kicks off in India. With all 10 teams finalised after Sri Lanka and the Netherlands sealed their place in the quadrennial competition, the prediction game has taken full flight. Former India captain and batter, Sourav Ganguly was recently asked to pick his semi-finalists and the former BCCI president selected five teams who are contenders for the final four spots.
"It’s very hard to say (teams that could make the semi-finals)," Ganguly told RevSportz.
"Australia, England, India. You can never underestimate New Zealand in these big matches. I will pick five, and include Pakistan also. Pakistan better qualify so that we will have the India-Pakistan semi-final at the Eden Gardens," he added.
Indian players will enter the ODI World Cup with a ton of expectations on their shoulders. With the competition staged at home, Rohit Sharma's brigade is expected to replicate the heroics of the 2011 MS Dhoni-led India that lifted the trophy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Most times, India enters a multinational competition as the prime favourites to win the title. Since 2013, the Men in Blue have failed to win an ICC trophy. Recently, India were defeated by Australia in the 2023 World Test Championship final. For a decade now, India has faltered on the knockout stages of ICC tournaments.
Reflecting on India's recent woes in ICC events, Ganguly opined that the team falters in crucial moments of a big game and doesn't believe that pressure has a big role to play in it.
"We don’t perform well sometimes, in crucial phases. I don’t feel it is mental pressure, but all about execution. They are mentally strong people. Hopefully, they will cross the line soon. At least we qualified to the finals of the WTC, which is also an achievement. And yes, we have a chance. We have got good players, plenty of them. Hopefully, we will do it this time," Ganguly opined.
"Pressure will always be there. When they played before also, there was pressure. Rohit Sharma has five centuries in the last ODI World Cup. I am sure there must have been pressure on him then also. Pressure is not a problem. I am sure they will find a way to succeed. During Rahul Dravid’s playing days, there was pressure to perform, and now that he is the head coach, there is pressure on him to deliver. That will not go away, and I don’t think pressure is an issue," he added.
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