Former India star cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth has drawn parallel between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli and talked up latter's role in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 which will be held in India later this year. India's 1983 champions player said that just like Gambhir played a major role of anchor in the past, the same way Kohli will play that role in ODI World Cup 2023.
Gambhir played a significantly instrumental role in 2011 World Cup final with a match-winning knock of 97 against Sri Lanka and propelled India to the title glory. Back then the fresher Kohli also contributed with a crucial 35-run knock when India's chips were down. Twelve years later, Kohli, who's now an expert in the game, has a chance to taste the glory once again. India haven't won a single ICC trophy in the past nine years as they last won in 2013 Champions trophy which came under MS Dhoni's regime.
Srikkanth remembered and lauded Gambhir's knock in the summit clash of the 2011 World Cup and said that Kohli will replicate the same heroics in this year's edition.
"What a great feeling it was, to win the 83’ World Cup as a player and then to be chairman of selectors of the team, which one the 2011 World Cup is a story I can tell my grandchildren," he told Sportskeeda.
"First of all, the knock played by Gautam Gambhir was phenomenal, that too in the World Cup, congratulations to him, I am proud of him. Superb batting throughout the series. I am making the prediction that Virat Kohli will show us the same heroics in the 2023 World Cup," he added.
The 63-year-old also said that Kohli will play the anchor role during the World Cup this year and provide freedom for players like Ishan Kishan and others to perform.
"Just like Gautam Gambhir has played a major role of anchor in the past, the same way Virat Kohli will play that role this time around. He will help players like Ishan Kishan excel just as he got a century when Kishan got a double century."
"It’s all about freedom, giving your players the freedom, do what you want, play your game even if you get out, that’s the approach the team should have,” Srikkanth concluded.
Initially, the event was supposed to take place from February 9 to March 23 this year, but the dates were moved to October and November 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There will be a squad of 15 players in the World Cup. Out of which 11 players will play. The 2023 World Cup will be in the round-robin format. That is, like the 2019 World Cup, all 10 teams will play each other in 9 matches. Then the top-4 position team will play semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will play the final and the final will decide the world champion.
Seven out of 10 teams for the World Cup have been decided on the basis of the ICC Super League points table. Three teams are yet to be decided.
