The countdown to the ICC World Cup 2023 has started as the full scheduled for the competition was announced by the ICC on Tuesday (June 27). The highly-anticipated tournament is scheduled to be played from October 5 to November 19 in India.
All eyes will be on Team India as fans desperately expect them to finally end their long wait for an ICC title. The Men in Blue have failed to do well in ICC competitions in recent times and have not won a global tournament since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
The Indian cricket fraternity is hopeful that the home conditions will finally help Team India put all of their recent disappointments behind and win the coveted title. India were the first team to win the World Cup at home in 2011 and will have the opportunity to become the first team to do it twice this year.
India not favourites for ICC World Cup 2023:
India might not have won an ICC tournament in recent times but they are still one of the strongest teams in the world. The familiar conditions at home only make their chances of winning the World Cup brighter. However, former India batsman Kris Srikkanth believes otherwise.
The batting great has said that India would have been the real favourites for the ICC World Cup 2023 if wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was fit and playing for the team. The star wicketkeeper is currently recovering from the injuries he sustained from a horrific car accident last year in December. While his comeback date is still not known, he is unlikely to be a part of the World Cup squad.
“We don’t know the real truth about Rishabh Pant. Because Rishabh Pant, if he was playing, I would have straightaway said that India are the real favourites for the World Cup. But I think obviously, Rishabh Pant’s fitness is questionable.
“Nobody knows how fit will he be before the World Cup. I doubt it. Many people doubt if he will play the 2023 World Cup. Otherwise, the Rishabh Pant factor would have been very crucial,” said Srikkanth while speaking to India Today.
Speaking further, Srikkanth admitted that India do have the required firepower to win the World Cup. He backed the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul to perform and win the tournament for Team India.
“So I believe guys like KL Rahul should be back in the middle order. KL Rahul has been fantastic. We have Rohit Sharma opening with Shubman Gill. Then we have Virat Kohli, who has been fantastic in this format and he has been in form. I believe India has got the capabilities of winning the World Cup,” said Srikkanth.
India will open their campaign in ICC World Cup 2023 on October 8 with a mouthwatering clash against 5-time champions Australia.
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