Nasser Hussain, the ex-England captain, holds a strong conviction that the top-ranked ODI team, India, is in pole position to seize victory in the forthcoming 50-over ICC World Cup 2023. The Indian cricket squad, enjoying the privilege of playing on their home turf, combined with their impeccable recent form, has skyrocketed them to the zenith of One Day International rankings.
Their recent cricketing accolades include clinching the Asia Cup 2023 title and reigning supreme in the ODI series against the mighty Australians. Such victories have ensured that the Men in Blue, captained by Rohit Sharma, carry an air of invincibility as they march into the World Cup. While other participating teams grapple with injury woes, India's formidable lineup seems more potent than ever.
Hussain shared his insights with Sky Sports, stating, "It's hard to look beyond India. They're ranked No. 1 in the world, plus history tells you that playing at home is a huge advantage. England won it four years ago, Australia in 2015 when hosting, and India themselves back in 2011. They're also just a very good side with basically all bases covered. They'll be very hard to beat."
Statistically, India stands only second to Australia in the World Cup rankings. Their illustrious history in the tournament showcases their championship wins in 1983 and 2011. Though they faced the agony of defeat in the 2003 final, their competitive spirit has been evident in their semi-final stints in 1987, 1996, 2015, and 2019. The 2007 World Cup was a blip in their journey, with an early exit, but since then, India has cemented its status as a powerhouse, invariably entering every World Cup as one of the favorites.
India's World Cup 2023 squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and R Ashwin.
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