Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has picked India as a favourites to win the ODI World Cup on home soil later this year due to the home conditions and named three players who can be key to the team’s success in the marquee event in India.
Team India will be one of the favourites to win the World Championship in India, as they have got a formidable unit to perform well in the sub-continental conditions. The Men in Blue is currently preparing for the high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday.
Speaking on the Backstage with Boria show, Sourav Ganguly feels that India is the favourites to win the World Cup on India and believes that the home team will have an advantage in doing well for the team as they can utilize the home conditions to put memorable performances for the country in home conditions.
“India will always be favourites on home soil. They have a very good side and if the fitness of the players is on track, they will always have a very good chance in home conditions.
“It will depend on how they play during the tournament and how the fast bowlers perform but that’s for everyone so as I said, India in home conditions will always have a strong chance,” Sourav Ganguly said.
The Men in Blue have failed to do well in ICC competitions in recent times including their failure in the 2023 WTC final and have not won a global tournament since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. They will look to put impressive in front of the home to win the trophy after 12 long years.
Virat Kohli Will Be India’s Go-To Man Along With Rohit Sharma – Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly believes that India’s top order is the biggest match-winner for the Men in Blue in the ODI format, as he feels that the form of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and batting maestro Virat Kohli would be crucial for the team’s success in the World Cup and asserted that Shubman Gill can win matches for India in the mega event.
“Virat is playing very well. He has looked very good in the last few months and is batting extremely well and will be India’s go-to man along with Rohit Sharma. Rohit as captain is playing his first and last World Cup. I am speaking about the 50-over World Cup here which will come after 4 years. He could play T20 but this is a different format.
“And he too has a superb record in world cups. 5 hundred in the last World Cup where he was brilliant. Finally, it is Shubman Gill who has the class to stand up and win matches for India. Each of them will have to stand up if India has to win the tournament,” Sourav Ganguly added.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has been the biggest match winner for India in the last decade or so, producing some memorable performance for the team across the formats and the form and fitness of the Indian stalwarts will crucial for the team’s success in the ODI World Cup in India, as many speculate that this could be the final World Cup for two legends of the game