Team India had a good run in the league stage of the World Cup 2019 as the team topped the points table. Even though the side was knocked out after losing the first semifinal against New Zealand, India’s former Football captain Bhaichung Bhutia praised the Men in Blue saying sometimes the best side doesn't win.

While talking to PTI on the sidelines of an event, Bhutia said, “As Virat (Kohli) described it, 'it was 45 minutes of bad cricket.' But, if we play New Zealand, we will beat them 10 out of ten times. We lost, it is part of the game. And, if you are out, you are out, it is not that it (India) was a bad team.”

Team India was fantastic in the league stage as they won 7 out of 8 matches. It was the case of top-order collapse that shattered the World Cup dream of this team but Bhutia stated Virat Kohli’s side was “the best team in the World Cup”.

"It is just that the best team did not win it, sometimes you become the best, but the best team does not win, it happens in sports. We (India) will have to come back strong," he said.

The 42-year-old Bhaichung Bhutia who has 107 international caps along with 42 goals to his name then went on to urge ICC to spread the game as he said, “I strongly feel that the ICC should start spreading the game to other countries. We need to see more teams, new teams picking up the game.”

“In this cricket World Cup, we just saw Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani fans in the stadium, we need to see more people (from other countries), need to spread the game,” added Bhutia, one of the most accomplished footballers to emerge from India.

(With PTI inputs)