Sri Lankan bowling great Muttiah Muralitharan has picked hosts India as one of the favorites to win the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 which begins on October 5. The last time the coveted trophy was played in Asia, India had won the tournament by defeating Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai in 2011.
That was also Muralitharan’s last international match for Sri Lanka as India had chased down 275 runs with the loss of 4 wickets with Gautam Gambhir making 97 and MS Dhoni scoring 91* runs.
In fact, since 2011, the host nations have got their hands on the coveted trophy. Australia won the World Cup in 2015 when they co-hosted with New Zealand and England won the trophy as hosts in 2019.
Muralitharan, whose last international match was against India in the final 12 years ago, also sounded eager to watch the World Cup match between the hosts and England.
“I am looking forward to India vs England. India are one of the favorites because they are playing at home and they know how to win in India. This is going to be a very interesting match and I want to watch it,” Muralitharan was quoted as saying to Star Sports.
England, apart from being the defending 50-over World Cup champions, are also the T20 World Cup champs as well.
The Pitches Will Favour The Sub-Continental Teams: Virender Sehwag
On the other hand, former opener Virender Sehwag said that the World Cup’s playing surfaces are most likely to benefit teams from the subcontinent. Afghanistan’s inferior batting than their bowling could force them to lose, according to the Nawab of Najafgarh.
“The pitches will favor the sub-continental teams. India and Sri Lanka have good spin attacks. Afghanistan do not have a great batting line-up but they have very good spinners. In 2011, the two best teams came to the final and the better team won,” Sehwag said.
India’s first match of the World Cup is against Australia on Sunday, October 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The marquee clash between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.