Dale Steyn and Irfan Pathan had the same opinion over the 2023 World Cup finalists.
Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn said that he is keeping his fingers crossed for his home team to make it to the final of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
With South Africa's recent triumph over Australia in a thrilling five-match ODI series, Steyn’s hopes are running high, as there are a number of players in the national team who have a lot of experience playing in Indian conditions, thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Steyn revealed his inner dilemma, as his heart wants South Africa to reach the ODI World Cup 2023 final, but his rational mind hints that the final showdown might feature cricket giants India and England, as he said that it is hard to think that the defending champions would not make the final.
Dale Steyn said on Star Sports: “It’s a tough one, you know my heart wants to go with South Africa making the final. I would love them to make the final, their team, a lot of their players play in the IPL, they play in India regularly.”
He continued, “They got some guys like in David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen who really started to figure out those conditions and bat well there. Then, there is KG Rabada who has been bowling there for ages and a lot of their other senior players have played a lot of cricket there. So, I feel like they have got the ability to go on and get to the finals with getting those players.”
Steyn signed off by saying, “I feel like the favourites would probably be India, I feel like India is going to be one of the finalists and probably England. But my heart wants to say South Africa and India but I am kind of leaning towards India and England.”
Speaking on the same panel, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan also admitted that it was difficult to leave out defending champions England from the final of the upcoming World Cup 2023.
Pathan said, “See, on logic you can’t drop England from the finalists spot because they have a very strong team, and the way they are playing cricket with their all-rounders like at number 9, they have an all-rounder batsmen like Chris Woakes, so I know that but I have a hunch in my heart which says that South Africa will do great in this World Cup.”