It's been a decade since Team India last won an ICC tournament. After MS Dhoni led the side to a Champions Trophy triumph in 2013, India have lost as many as four ICC event finals and bowed out in the semi-finals on numerous occasions.
While Virat Kohli took the team to great heights in Test cricket, he failed to clinch an ICC trophy. The same has been the case with current skipper Rohit Sharma, under whom the team lost the T20 World Cup semi-final to England last year and also suffered a crushing 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the WTC 2023 final at The Oval.
Meanwhile, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has said that the Indian team has the capability to win the ODI World Cup at home later this year and it should not be judged on the basis of two T20I defeats in the West Indies.
India won the Test and ODI series in the Caribbean but they are trailing 0-2 in the five-match T20I series, leading to criticism over the side's preparations ahead of two marquee events – the Asia Cup and the 50-over World Cup.
"India has lost just two matches (T20Is against West Indies), so we do not need to get overly concerned. I am seeing a lot of negative reaction after the two losses. But I will only say that our team is extremely competitive. I am not going to judge (India) on two back-to-back losses (in the West Indies). The only thing is that key players are missing," Kaif said at a function.
However, he stressed that fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah needs to be fully fit for the hosts to end the title drought.
"Bumrah missing is the biggest factor. If he recovers fully... one aspect is to complete the recovery and the other aspect is to gain match fitness. If he regains that (match fitness), it will be a massive gain for Team India. If Bumrah is fully fit, we have a great chance of winning the World Cup at home," said Kaif.
Bumrah is all set to return to action with the T20 series against Ireland later this month. He has been away from competitive action for almost a year due to a recurring back injury. Earlier this year, the right-arm quick underwent surgery to treat his lower back issues.
According to Kaif, Bumrah’s absence played a part in India's string of losses in major competitions during the last one year.
"A lot of people are discussing that the (India) team under (chief coach) Rahul Dravid lost the (T20) Asia Cup (last year), the (T20) World Cup in Australia, the World Test Championship in England (recently).
"I understand all that, mistakes have happened. But I think, is it not easy to play with Bumrah not in the side. He is the biggest match-winner and Rohit Sharma didn't get his services, so think about all that.
"I believe, as soon as Bumrah returns fully fit... he wins 50 per cent of the matches for the Indian team. I think if Bumrah is in the team and a few others like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer also return, we have the players who can win the (World Cup) trophy," he remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)
